IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-S) 


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Photographic 

Sciences 

Corporation 


33  WIST  MAIN  STNIT 

WMSTIR  NY.  I4SI0 

(71«)  l73-4)07i 


CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


CiHM/iCIVgH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


Canadian  Inatituta  for  Hiatorical  Microraproductions  /  Inatitcit  Canadian  da  microraproductiona  hiatoriquaa 


k 


O^ 


k 


Technical  and  Bibliographic  Notaa/Notas  tachniqiiaa  at  bibliographiouas 


Tha  Instituta  has  attamptad  to  obtain  tha  bast 
original  copy  available  for  filming.  Faaturas  of  this 
copy  which  may  ba  bibliographically  unique, 
which  may  alter  any  of  the  images  in  the 
reproduction,  or  which  may  significantly  change 
the  usual  iTiathod  of  filming,  are  checked  below. 


D 


□ 


x/ 


D 
D 


D 


Coloured  covers/ 
Couverture  de  couleur 


I      I    Covers  damaged/ 


Couverture  endommagde 


Covers  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Couverture  restaur^  et/ou  pellicu!6e 


I      I    Cover  title  missing/ 


D 


La  titre  de  couverture  manque 

Coloured  maps/ 

Cartes  g^ographiques  en  couleur 


Coloured  ink  (i.e.  other  than  blue  or  black)/ 
Encre  de  couleur  (i.e.  autre  que  bleue  ou  noire) 


I      I    Coloured  plates  and/or  illustrations/ 


Planches  et/ou  illustrations  en  couleur 

Bound  with  other  material/ 
ReliA  avGC  d'autres  documents 

Tight  binding  may  cause  shadows  or  distortion 
along  interior  margin/ 

La  reliure  serrde  peut  causer  de  I'ombre  ou  de  la 
distortion  le  long  de  la  marge  intArieure 

Blank  leaves  added  during  restoration  may 
appear  within  the  text.  Whenever  possible,  these 
have  been  omitted  from  filming/ 
II  se  peut  que  certaines  pages  blanches  ajoutAes 
lors  dune  restauration  apparaissant  dans  le  texte. 
mais,  lorsque  cela  6tait  possible,  ces  pages  n'ont 
pas  itt  filmAes. 

Additional  comments:/ 
Commentaires  supplAmentairas; 


7 
t( 


L'Institut  a  microf  ilm4  le  meilleur  exwmplaire 
qu'il  lui  a  ite  possible  de  se  procurer.  Les  details 
de  cet  exempjaira  qui  sont  peut-dtre  uniques  du 
point  de  vue  bibliographique,  qui  peuvent  modifier 
une  .    age  reproduite,  ou  qui  peuvent  exiger  une 
modification  dans  la  mithc^e  normale  de  filmage 
sont  indiquAs  ci-dassous. 


I      I   Coloured  pages/ 


Pages  de  couleur 

Pages  damaged/ 
Pages  endommagies 


n   Pages  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Pages  restaurias  et/ou  pellicul6es 

E    Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  foxed/ 
Pages  d6color6es,  tachet^es  ou  piqu( 


y 


piqudes 


□Pages  detached/ 
Pages  d^tach^es 

0Showthrough/ 
Transparence 


Transparence 

Quality  of  prir 

Quality  inigale  de  I'impression 

Includes  supplementary  materii 
Comprend  du  materiel  supp'imentaira 

Only  edition  available/ 
Seule  Edition  disponible 


I      I    Quality  of  print  varies/ 

I      I    Includes  supplementary  material/ 

I      I    Only  edition  available/ 


Pages  wholly  or  partially  obscured  by  errata 
slips,  tissues,  etc.,  have  been  refilmed  to 
ensure  the  best  possible  image/ 
Les  pages  totalement  ou  partiellement 
obscurcies  par  un  feuillet  d'errata,  une  pelure, 
etc.,  ont  M  filmAes  A  nouveau  de  fa^on  A 
obtenir  la  meilleure  image  possible. 


7 
P 

0 

fi 


C 

b 

tl 

s< 
o 

fl 

si 
o 


T 
si 

T 

VI 

N 
dl 
ei 
b( 
ri 
re 
rr 


This  item  is  filmed  at  the  reduction  ratio  checked  below/ 

Ce  document  est  film*  au  taux  de  reduction  indiqu*  ci-dessous. 

10X  '.4X  18X  22X 


28X 


aox 


r 


12X 


1«X 


aox 


a4x 


2tx 


32X 


The  copy  filmed  here  has  been  reproduced  thanks 
to  the  generosity  of: 

Library  of  the  Public 
Archives  of  Canada 

The  images  appeoring  here  are  the  best  quality 
possible  considering  the  condition  and  legibility 
of  the  oviglnal  copy  and  in  keeping  with  the 
filming  contract  specifications. 


Original  copies  in  printed  paper  covers  are  filmed 
beginning  with  the  front  cover  end  ending  on 
the  last  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, or  the  back  cover  when  approj^riate.  All 
other  original  copies  are  filmed  beginning  on  the 
first  page  with  a  printed  or  Illustrated  Impres- 
sion, and  ending  on  the  last  pag^  with  a  printed 
or  illustrated  Impression. 


The  last  recorded  frame  ctn  each  microfiche 
shall  contain  the  symbol  ^»>  (meaning  "CON- 
TINUED"), or  the  symbo!  y  (meaning  "END"), 
whichever  applies. 

Maps,  plates,  charts,  etc.,  mey  be  filmed  at 
different  reduction  ratios.  Those  too  large  to  be 
entirely  included  in  one  exposure  are  filmed 
beginning  In  the  upper  left  hand  corner,  let<  to 
right  and  top  to  bottom,  as  many  frames  es 
required.  The  following  diagrams  IHustrate  the 
method: 


L'exemplaire  filmi  f ut  reprodult  grflce  A  la 
gAnArositi  de: 

La  bibllothAque  des  Archives 
publiques  du  Canada 

Les  images  suivantes  ont  tt6  reprodultes  avec  le 
plus  grand  soin,  compte  tenu  de  la  condition  et 
de  la  nettet6  de  l'exemplaire  film«,  et  en 
conformity  avec  les  conditions  du  contrat  de 
filmage. 

Le   exemplaires  originaux  dont  la  couverture  en 
papier  est  ImprimAe  sent  fllm6s  en  commandant 
par  le  premier  piet  et  en  termlnant  soit  par  la 
dernlAre  pege  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'Impression  ou  d'lllustration,  solt  par  le  second 
plat,  selon  le  cas.  Tous  les  autres  exemplaires 
originaux  sent  filmte  en  commenpant  par  la 
premiere  pege  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'Impression  ou  d'lllustratlon  et  en  termlnant  par 
la  dernlAre  page  qui  comporte  une  telle 
empreinte. 

Un  des  symboles  suivants  apparattra  sur  la 
dernlAre  Image  de  cheque  microfiche,  selon  le 
ess:  le  symbole  — ^  signlfie  "A  SUIVRE",  le 
symbols  V  signlfie  "FIN". 

Les  cartes,  planches,  tableaux,  etc.,  peuvant  Atre 
fllmte  A  des  taux  de  rAduction  diffArents. 
Lorsque  le  document  est  trop  grand  pour  Atre 
reprodult  en  un  seuS  clichA,  II  est  fiimA  A  partir 
de  Tangle  supArleur  gauche,  de  gauche  A  droite. 
et  dc  haut  en  bas.  en  prenant  le  nombre 
d'Images  nAcessaire.  Les  diagrammes  suivants 
illustrent  la  mAthode. 


V 


1 

2 

3 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

Journal  kept  by  Hugh  Finlay. 


I 


No.  /^. 


^  0  u  I'  n  a  I 


kept    by   Hugh     Fiiilay,   Surveyor    of   the    Post    Roads 
on  the  Continent  of  North  America, 

during  his 

^urbci)     of    the     \)oBi    ipffircs 

between  Falmouth  and  Casco  Bay 

in  the  Province  of  Massachusetts, 

and 

Savannah  in   Georgia; 

ln'mm   tlu-    I  ;th   Scptr.    i"-;   ami   cr.icd   iM)  June    1""+. 


BROOKLYN : 

Pl'DLISHED      II  V      FRANK      H.      NORTON. 
1867. 


Entrred   according   to   Act  of  Congress  in   the  year    1867    by   Fbank    H.    Nobton   in    ;hc  Clerk's  Otfice  of  the 
Uistrict  Court  uf  the  United  Statci  for  the  Eujtern  District  o('  New  York. 


INT  RODUCTION. 


••  FiM  AV-  JoniN.u,,'  a  M.-^.  nf  S4  pp.,  writlon  in  a  small,  exceedingly  neat,  and  pcr- 
feelly  le.nMe  l,an,l,  iMmml  in  offuid  vellnm,  and  illustrated  «itl>  two  pen-and-ink  maps, 
and  a  small  vi^'netle  drawing,  eame  into  my  p..ssossi,.n  in  this  wise. 

One  John  Hawkins,  an  Kn.Mishman,  and  a  professor  of  the  .Swedenborf-ian  fa.th,  «a, 
sent  out  to  this  eonn.ry  about  .he  year  ls,-,4,  by  that  seet,  as  is  supposed  with  a  design  to 
propiiLMte  the  belief  ill  the  I'niled  , "States. 

lie  do..s  not  seeui  to  have  met  with  distinguished  siiceess,  cither  in  religious  or  seeular 
„„.,.ers,  for  while  there  is  no  reeord  of  his  having  made  converts  on  the  one  part,  it  is  cer- 
,„i,.  „,,,  |,„vi„g  eu.ere.l  into  business,  he  tailed  dismally  on  the  other,  and  his  belongings 

""'  ul^l  ;■;, -rdoeuiuents,  e,urespo,ide,iee  ..ul  other  writings  that  fVll  into  the  posses- 

.i ■  ,|u.  auetioneer,  was  tin,  manuseript.  whieh  was  brought  to  uie  early  in  October  lasc 

,.y   his  son,  and  from  wl I  at  purchased   it,  pereeiung,  as   I    thought,  that   it  must 

ivossess  some  intriiisie  value  . 

'        A  careful  r lin.  of  it,  and  conversation  with  various  gentlemen  upon  whose  jndgmen 

in  suel ...e.  1  eouhl  .ely. r 1 i v  opinion,  and  ii.du,  ed  n.o  to  print  a  small 

-''" '  ""■  ""•;:  ''>;"•-;■'''•'""  ,„  „,„  ,,,;,„,,  ,„  uiat  the  book  is  a  true 

In  printing  this  edition  I  haveadheied  iilhiiv 

..o„v  of  the  Ms,  of  llu,.d,  Kinh-y,  rr.U->w.  w  /,»n,n,„.  n  , >,<u,un. 

'Nvhile  1  did  bi,..  u,..lf  i y on. Id  anything  of  my  o.n   o  ^ 

, U,  .  vet  had icw  to  gi ligli.  ^1<.'..1.  ^'m->T.-i"'-  to  the  subject,  and  to  m.iU 

.uch  illustrations  and  c.xplanatorv  notes  as  might  occur  to  me. 


VI. 


This  iiitontion  T  ym^wc  to  cnrry 


mil  ill  tho  prci'Oiil  iiil 


nulni'tinii.  mil  willi  ""y  ^■'''^*' 


'":  "''"" ;,,^,„rinil  «;i-,„.v.  licaiis..  my  , o^  oriiiWmu.io.i  .ire  moa^n- 

"^::"'^'^''':;r;;;;:;;;  t^   ^i.,, ,:,.,... 1.-^ -..•  w..„...  „ 

;;;..„s'i„imr-- i.i.W..is.,.y  „.•..,.... io,.o..,.irWypolil,.. 


TUi.  MM.iii,  .,no.,ill,.n  .iU  , ..o.  .^^  ..-  ^ •">-  "^  ."'-'  -" '"'"" 

i„  „,o  ....loiii-S  Fior  ..  .lie  ..slaMislim.....  of  „„  or,.ini..a  ,.n..  -.fli..'. 

>^i;;;:,,t-.:r:.r:::-,;'f  ^J.^  ;;-^^^^ 

romviiij:  leiUTs.     l,olUTs  nut  ,  ,ll,..l  I".  «"'  '■^.    .  ;^^  ,,„,  ,„„  ,i„,  „,■  ,h,i,.  „«,„■.>.     l'.^.- 
lu.  wlK,H',  «l.or,.  tl...y  ..ly  spr-'ad  "'••;;""''     ^,:"1.  ^  ous,.  ..ml  ■■...■.iid  ..way  i,".  cmly 

,h..ir  „«..  loiters,  (Mil  ...1  tl...  ...to,     1        '^   ;  .  „    „„.  „,i„i,,..r  ,„.  ina^nstrat..,  or  some 

either  ilelivereil  ...  peisuii,  or  .leiHiMtiO  a.  u.i         i 

relative  of  tl.e  i...livi.lunl  t,.  wlu.iu  the  '•:';;;;;,«^;i;; '^;i;:,,„flVe.h,mse.  letters  ,vritten  in  the 

..  „e,u-e.  the  ...sto,,,  ^new  n    ''^  ''^ ''  "^    '  ' ,      ,"„„„,,  ,,,„„.1„  ,n,m  the  eoi.ntry  ..u.l 

,„«naml  ,lesti..e,l  ,o  a  ,.l.i.^e  ..i  the  "''"'';•;"'',;,,,.,,,,  „,,,,  i^  ,„„„l„.r  ao.l  ,„.,f:.,il...le 

;r;;:;;:,i;:'.:^:.;;'l:;'i:r ;;'.:':: :;;:::;  te,i';:,'om::f'u:::'a.  u,e  i .re„i.e„te.i  ^  .^ 

i„h:ihitai.lsoltl...t  setllemeot.  „„.;,.„|Ti.e  or  a  imM-riiler  in   the  clonles,  a 

..•ri,...s  seveial  years  l.el".e  "'•"■  ""  V  e  .  e,    1 '  ive,v  h...    siM-.m.  .1,, ;  an.l  h.i.K  ..Iter 

rn,le,  .low.  .in.atV,  h...  -^''^■''^ ^^^  ^     '^     ^  !   ,  '  ,  ,     i„„.!,l  ,„1,e'.he  mail.  d.T-""- 

:t;::-';hr^::;:^t:^i::-^;-':'''^-'- 

M.saehnseus   seen.s  to  ..eon  ..re s,   i e hlisl n.  -.f  ..  le.a.  postal 

system,  sii.ee  in  ihe  year  VV^K  the  .General  Court  of  that  eolo.iy   issued  .he  .ol.o«,i,g  de- 

..  It   is  OKonnK,..  .ha.  no.iee  he  ,iven  tha,  Kiehanl  Vai,ha,,ks,  l'i> ';--  |^  Jl^f^^^^J 

„,e  ,d.' e  .,,,oi,„e,.  .,,r  all  '---'i"  i;;- •:'::^';  i^i^  ^li^^  nhd;::..::! : :. 

S  :^i;;"d- :';!:,ls';':.::rl.e  Is  ■..;::::' .:::v; ;  h-... « ,enny,  and  i.e s,  answer 

all  „,is,arria(:es  ll,.-,i..L'li  his  o«i.  i.et:leet  ...  >!..>  kind. 
rjr,„„„->  Life  of  F.anklm,  vol  I,  p.  31"      '<••»  '''•"^-  "'"*■ 


t 


r 


vn. 


U 


111  Virginia  the  colonial  law  of  ICo",  refiuirod  every  planter  to  provide  a  messenger  to 
convey  tlie  (lesiuitelios  as  tliey  arrivinl,  to  the  next  plantation  and  so  on,  on  pain  of  forfeiting 
a  hogfiiiead  of  tobacco  for  default. 

In  1072,  tlie  ;,'overnn,ent  of  New  York  CM  lished  a  monthly  mail  to  Boston,  advertis- 
ing, 

•■  Those  thi.t  he  disposed  to  send  letters,  to  bring  tliom  to  the  Secretary's  Office,  where 
in  a  h.cke.l  box  they  shall  be  preserved  till  the  messenger  calls  for  them  ;  all  persons  pay- 
ing  tlie  post  before 'the  hagg  be  sealed  u])."* 

Thirty  years  later  this  monthly  post  had  become  a  fortnightly  one,  as  we  see  by  tho 
following  paragraph  in  tlic  liusluii  Scifs  Le/lcr. 

••  Bv  order  of  the  I'osln.aster  (loneral  of  North  America.  These  are  to  give  notice, 
that  on  Monday  «igl,t  the  f.th  of  December,  the  Western  I'ost  between  Bost,.n  and  New 
York  sets  ont  ..nc  a  fortnight,  the  three  winter  .nonlhs  „t  December  Jannary  and  K^r.  nrj 
„„d  to  go  .dternatelv  froin  Hnslon  to  .^aybrook  and  Hartford  to  exchange  the  nui.l  of  Ic'tte  s 
with  th.  New  York  kydcr  llie  lirst  turn  for  Sayhrook,  to  meet  the  New  Urk  Kydcr  on  ha- 
turdav  ..i.'h.  the  1 1  th  currant  ;  and  the  second  turn  he  sets  ont  at  ]$ostoii  on  Monday  night 
.  2, Ml.  currant,  to  meet  .he  New  York  liyder  at  Hartford,  on  Saturday  night  the  2oth  cur 
rant  to  exchange  mails  ;  and  all  persons  who  .send  letters  from  B,.ston  to  (^Connecticut  Irom 
a.ul  after  the  iJith  instant,  are  hereby  notified  lirst  to  pay  the  postage  on  the  same,  t 


1(574. 


b,- 


CONNECTICUT. 
'  [Befo.c  Griirrul  Court,  Haiiford  1()74.1 
"This  Court  being  inade"sensible  of  the  great  damage  that  may  accrue  to  the  puldhpie 
liberty  or  l„.l.liicss  which  soniC  persons  may  take  to  thciuselves  (when  einploycd  by 
•der  of  auMioritv  i^.r  the  cnuvevanec  of  letters,  post,  and  other  important  occusionsof  this 


.ulonvl  by  i.rofuse  and  ..xtravagaut  spcmling  at  the  ordinaries  and  other  places  on  the  roau 
,„mn"the',ountrves  aeet,  and  allso  bv  irreat  delayes  on  jonrneycs,  very  prejudlciall  to  the  co- 
l.luv  which  willing  to  prevent,  clue  therefore  order  that  the  aUowance  or  those  persol.s  (who 
shall  be  employed  ....  s,.eh  servic..)  for  their  wag.'S  a..d  expcnees  ot  themsclyes  and  horses, 
.ball  be  as  tollowelh,  fro...  the  lirst  of  May  to  the  .u.ddle  ol  October  :  [here  h.llows  a  long 
list  of  prices  at  various  places,  too  extensive  to  copy.]  .  .  * 

*♦  ♦  *  *  * 

'■  \nd  from  the  middle  of  Oct.d.er  to  the  Inst  of  Ai.rill,  to  be  eight  pence  n.ore  than  the 
above,  for  every  night  tl.ev  Ivc  out,  tor  oates  to  the  lu.rses,  where...  great  care  .s  to  be  had 
by  the  ordinari-  keepers,  that  l.yrcd  horses  are  not  .lepr.veo  of  their  allowance.    Allso,  tbe 


»  .\tili-5'  History  of  tht  Post  Office.      London. 

t  l>u>kingli.ini  9  Spcvimrns  of  Ntwsfaprr  Literature. 


Vlll. 


differonees  in  tl.o  «l.ovosav<Ml  sums  is  t„  hv  llie  »t:,l..,l  wapos  fm.n  ';'«"''/''.,''™''''' ,''',''';;>, 


(?"' 


this  Ciiliiny  wIi.to  tlirir  wafios  is  iint  stilled. 


for  ...enand  ImrW.,  wl.uso  allnwan,.,.  f..>-  tl,..  n.an  l.y  tl...  .n.alo  shall  ' '  f/^       ' ' '  "  ^\^\    J 
Imrso  at  ^-ra.s,  tower  ,,on.o  a  iiif-'l...  and  for  oa.cs,  lower  l.-'nec  llie  l.alle  peek,  and  tor  hay 

""^  "'I'ris'X:;  \::a:U  .1k..  .l ever  n,,on  these  tear„,es  shall  n,n es..,ly  stop  ,.  de- 

tavne   his   iourn.'V  fo.th  or  haek,  or  shall  he  ne.'essarilv  stopped  or  detayn.-d  hy  anthouty  .n 
,e  t     e       ion.  sn.l,  person  or  persons  shall  heare   the  penaiiv  or  reeetve  reeotnpenee 

el,rLrdi„a,'ii;  as  the  authority  who 'sent  then  shall  judge  ri-ht  to  he  aha-ed  or  augtnent.d 
in  his  wages."* 

1073.  M.VSSAriirSKTTS. 

Under  date  Jany.  tith,  lliTli.     The  (i> ral  Court  of  Massaehusetts  reports  as  follows: 

"  The  Ciuirt  niett  aluuit  the  lime.  •      .1    .  ., 

•■  Whereas  the  puhliek  o,-easio„s  of  the  eountry  doe  fref|nontly  re.|Uire  that  no's.senf. ers 
be  sent  ,«.sl  and  as  vet,  no  staled  alhovanee  settled  in  sueh  eases,  il  is  ordered  hy  this 
Court  and  the  authorilv  tliereof,  that  frcou  heu.eforth  evry  person  so  s.'Ut  up.m  the  puli- 
lieke  servi,.,'  of  the  eoui.lrv  shall  he  alh.wd  hy  the  Treasurer  aft.'r  the  rate  ot  three  peni'e 
a  mile  t.,  the  i.laee  to  whiei,  he  is  sent,  in  money,  as  full  satisfaetion  lor  the  expem-e  ot  horse 

and  u  ;  and  m.  Inlulder  shall  take  of  any  sueh  ,ne.s.se„f:er  or  others  travayl,,,;.'  upon  puh- 

lieke  serviee  more  than  two  shillings  pr  Imshell  for  oates,  and  tower  pem-e  tor  hay,  day  aiol 
night.f" 


In  the   year  UiTT.  in  answer  to  the  reipiest  (.f  several  merihaiits  of  Itostim,  deelannj 


that 

1)1. 


"thov  have  heard  manv  eumplaints  made  hv  merchants  ami  others  that  have  limn  seiiei- 
,„e  of  the'hisse  of  l.tt.rs,  wheivhv  menhants  with  their  friemls  ami  imployers  in  torreigne 
parts  are  .rreatlv  denniilied  (sir.)  nianv  tim,  s  the  hlters  are  impnteil  and  throwni'  upon  the 
oxehan.'e,  that  who  will  mav  tM>,.  them  ii|.  .  no  p,r.-on  wllh..nl  some  sati.-laetiou  lieing  wil- 
liior  to  trouhle  their  houses  therewith;  theref,  re  humhly  desire,  the  eourl  to  depute  .s(nne 
lueete  person  to  take  in  an.l  eonvey  letters  aeeording  to  y'  dire,  lioii,"  *  *  *  ■'  tins  eonri 
judgeth  it  meete  to  grant  the  petiti..ners  re.piest  herein,  and  ha\e  made  ehi.yee  ot  .Mr.  .John 
Uavward  the  .-^irivener  to  he  the  per,«iui  for  ihat  serviee.}" 


♦  Col.  Rcc.  Conneit.  f.  ;4:. 

t  Rcc.  ot  Mass.  Vi.l.  iv.  I'l.  z.  p.  574- 

J     "      •<     "         ••     V,  p.  1+7. 


IX. 

In  1080  John  Ilaywnrd  or  (Haywood)  wns  appointed  post-master  of  the  whole  colony, 
and  in  HiSO  I'idiard  Will<iiiH  was  iippointed  "  I"  receive  all  letterB,  and  to  deliver  out  the 
same,  and  to  receive  ou  each  one  Penny."* 

U183.  I'ENXHYLVAXIA, 

In  .lulv  108;?,  Williiini  Venn  issuiMl  an  order  f".  the  establishment  of  n  Post  Office, 
iind  );ranled  to  Henry  Waldy  iii'Teknniiy,  authority  to  hold  one  and  "  to  supply  passcngora 
•,vilh  liorses  from  I'hi'ladelpli'ia  to  .New  Casth'  or  to  tlie  Vails." 

The  rates  of  JMLstajre  were,  to  wit  r,      ,     -  j     ^ 

"  Letters  from  the  Falls  to  I'liiladelpliia  ■',  d.,  to  Chester  ,')  d.,  to  New  Castle  7  d.,  to 
Marvlanil  !•  d.  And  from  I'liiladelpliia  to  Chester  -J  d.  to  New  Castle  4  d.,  and  to  Mary- 
land (i  d."  This  post  wont  onee  a  week,  and  was  to  lie  carefully  jiuhlished  "  on  the  niecting- 
jionse  door,  and  other  )iiililie  places"! 


In  New  Hampshire,  a  post-office  was  estahli.shed  by  the  Colony  in  1003. 

In  :Maine,  |)revimis  to  the  Revolution,  the  post  came  at  the  oftencst,  but  onee  a  week 
to  Portland  from  the  West,  but  it  was  by  no  means  rcgnlur.  It  wa.s  not  until  about  1700 
that  .1  weekly  mail  was  established  further  east  than  Portsmouth  ;  befo.,  that  time  it  was 
not  sent  until  a  sufficient  number  of  letters  were  cidh  cted  to  pay  the  expcncc. 

The  first  attempt  to  systematize  and  regulate  postal  communication  was  in  1000  by  Act 
of  Parliament,  (irevious  to  tliat  date  it  had  been  in  the  hands  of  private  parties. 

******** 

In  the  year  1092  in  the  reign  of  William  and  .Mary,  in  the  O.dony  of  Virginia,  was 

passed  the  following  .\ct. 

"  An  Act  for  enmiiiiii<iii<r  the  ••rrcliiig  of  a  Post-Offiir  in  llii.t  Coiin/ri/. 
"Wiiiiirvs  tlic  erection  and  establishment  of  a  post-office  within  this  colony  is  con- 
eived  of  gencrall  conccrnement  and  ot  great  advantage  for  the  increase  and  preservation  ot 


trade 


id 


therein  for  tlierebv  S|,cedv  and  safe  dispatch  may  be  had.  and  whereas 


thcire  majcsli 


letters   Patent  under  the  greate  scab 


of  Kngland  b( 


date 


lliciii-    mil  |i-.--in  ^    ■■>     11.,  11,    ..,,, ^  ,  .  .      Fill  V,.!.. 

the  17tli  dav  of  I'd.niary  in  the  4tli  yeare  of  their  rcigne  lone  given  unto  1  lionias  Ne.ilt 


esq 


hi 


I'Ulors,  ailiiiiiiistrators  and  assi: 


establish    within 
.\mcrica,  an 


chief"   pi 


of      tl 


gns  full    \n 
leire   several  I   i 


1  autliinitv   to  erect,  settle  and 


dands 


for   the    receiving  and 


il   dispatching 


iil(Ui\i's  and  ]il'ntatiiui 
v   of  lettiTs   and 


♦  Willis,  Hist,  of  PortljiKl,  p. 


t  Wali. 


,  Annals  ol  I'l.iU. 


J.  p.  191. 


,       ,    1 .1 |„.  ^.,,,,,.  iMiilcr  Miiili  rales  and  smiii's  of  miiiiry 

p„ec,uollH,  an,l  t„  ro.MMvo,  son,!  ....,    ,1,.!    . ,  ;'■';' ,"',,,  ,,„      ,,,,„„iu„al,l..  to  ih.  rates 
as  the  planters  or  inhabUauts  shouM  a^Mee   >o  J'  ^     ''  ,  .„.    ,„,  ^,,,,,,i    .  „„a  ..sf.l- 

for  the  earriap.  of  letters,  aseertaine,!  ,»  the  a.t  ot   I  •    '  •'  .  ,  ,,;,,„,,.   ,.,„,,„ 

lishin.a  >„,st  offiee.  to  h,.hl  a.,,1  e;...lo.v  the  same  tor  "'•,  \"''' ,     ';,.„„■„;  ,.,h,. 
under  the  vearelv  rent  of  six  shillinf.'sa,Hle,^htl.e»ee  as  U  the  s,,.d   UtI...   laiu. 

:td£aaeb;^^^ 

eountv  with  n  th  s  en  oi:v.  setlleaiiil  eslahli«li  o?u' or  mot       .oM  oiiKi     .  .   1 

,..l  ,  ,  .e  nd  i„e.t    ■ueor.linii  to    he  sev.'rall  rates  and  sanies  ol  eurr.nl  n,one>  here- 

:;>;:;',;i:::,i,;:d '.;;;!  ti.:::^:l::-^L. ...  is .o .,, f o. -.•  ..■-; ■^•-.r,  ;;:----;;-: 

i„,,  one  shoe,  lo  or  from  anv  ph..  e  not  exeeedm^-  tourseore  K nf.'l  sh  nnl.     .1  s  ,  i 

,,lieo  w!,ere  •  neh  letter  shall  he  r ived  three  ,,enee  and  tor  toe  l,ke  r;'  ■>,,., 

Uei.edins:  two  sl,e,.ts  six  i.enee.  and  for  the  like  i„.«t  ot  every  i.ae,|nel  ul  I ette.s  |,io,  urtnmahle 

^n         ;  t^d  rates,  that  Is  to  sav,  f..r  everv  - on,  --•■;'" "^.'-Y'"';": '"  t;  ^;:;;',^i^^: 

,,enee  and  noe  n.ore,  and  fnr  the  like  post  of  everv  ,  :o  ,ue.  o.  wr,  s.  '•-''-'",,', 
.f,er  'he  rate  nf  twelve  pene..  for  every  ounee  we,,d,l,  and  tor  the  1";;;'  ;\  •,;';,,  .'' 
exeeedin,' one  sheet   almve  the  distan.',     f  fnnrsenre    Knjrli-h  m  les  Iron,  the     da..    »h  r. 

.!.  :„      ^,H1   1„.  r..,...iv,.,l  fn„r  p,.n.-..  ha,*'  p.^nny,  and  fnr  th,.    'k.-  p..st  ot  a    ..t.er  n..t  ex- 

.■,.,.,li  ."  , heets  ni..e  penee,  a.'ol  pmpnrtinnald,.  ,..  rates  fnr  the  l.ke  post  ol  all  , p  . 

,f  let.trs   iha;  is  to  sav    lor  everv  -loe,  ,.xe,.,.,lin,r  two  she.ts  to  a.lvanee  lour  p.'.ee  hall 
1  nv  and     oe  m..re,  and  for  the  like  post  of  writs,  d I-  and  other  th.n.'s  alter  the  ra...s 

,       -1,  ,,.„  p,.ne..  fnr  ev..ry  .o.n,-..  w,'i«h,  :  /,„„../-,/„//.■„,,..  that   ,.1     ..ore ts  a,.en,.nts 

„nd  bills  .,f  ex.ha.,^-e.  invnv.e.  an.l   h.lls  of  I Ii.;^-  ar.'  a.ol    shall   he   „nder-,..n,l   ...   he 

allowed  ill   the  ral.'  an.l  pri.'.'  ..f  dniild.'  l.'lt.Ts,  an.l  shall 

pass  at  ill.'  sa..i.'  rat.'  and  pavm.'.il.'" 


hr  nnil.TsI 1  tn  h.'  allnwed  t.i 


I. 


lasLvTii;.-  ol-  nil:  I'liov.N.  i:  nr  Siw  H.vmi'siiirk. 
(S.'ssi.in  .•..i.i.i.en.cd  .Marel.  Isl    l(i'.i:l.) 
•■    1)/  (in  fur  sillhis  (I  iml-nffkc  ill  lliii  Piiirinrr. 

W.iiitrv'-Thnmus  Neal...  Ks,, .  fnr  himself  l.i.s   Kx iter,  ndminslrat..r  and  assi^neei. 

h^nhtain.d  f. th.ir  nmsl  Kx. .  lent  Maj.sly  full  power  and  aull...rily  hv  Letter-  1  attent- 


•  Hfnin|!'«  Slal    i\  Ljtgr,  vol    HI    \'.  ..>■ 


XI. 


undor  llic  triciit  »e»]  of  Kiigl.um,  licarinn;  date  tlii>  sovcntcentli  day  of  February,  1001,  to 
t-rcct,  s.'ttli'  and  cstablUli  williin  their  said  Majesty's  t'ldmiies  and  I'lantations  in  Amerion, 
an  Office  or  Olliees  fnr  the  reeeivinjt  and  dispaehiiif!  of  Letters  and  l'aef|uetts  Hceording  to 
direcliiiTi  nnder  sueh  rales  and  snnis  uf  immiT  as  tlie  Thinters  shall  agree  to  give,  and  for 
as  niiieh  as  a|i|ilieatiini  has  been  ninde  to  the  Jii.'Uti'nant  tio.eriior  and  CoiUK  ill  for  eneiiurage- 
nient  in  tliis  albiir,  liee  it  therefore  Knaeted  and  ordained  by  the  Lient.  (iovernor  Couneill 
and  Itenresentaliv.'s  eoiivened  in  general  asseniblv.  And  it  is  h-reby  Knaeted  and  ordained 
by  the  authority  of  th:>  same,  -hat  a  I'osI  OHiee'and  Offieer  be  heneifirlh  api.oiuted  and 
settled  in  sonie'i(Uivenient  I'laee  within  the  Town  of  riutsmoutb  for  reeeiving  and  dispatch- 
ing away,  aieording  to  direction,  all  l-elters  and  l'ac(|nitts  that  shall  be  brought  tbereinto. 
And  no' person  or  persons  wliat.ve-  «hi.ll  |, resume  to  (arry  or  reearry  i.ny  Letter  or  Letters 
fin-  hire  but  only  such  as  liehuigtotlie  I'ost-dfliee,  (lcri\ing  their  jiowcr  and  authoiity  from  .'he 
afore  .^ai.l  Thon'uis  Neale,  except  such  Letters  of  Merchants  and  Masters  which  shall  be  sent 
bv  any  master  of  anv  ship.  I  .at  or  any  other  vessel)  of  .Merchandize  or  any  other  person 
einido'y.Ml  by  thenj  foV  the  cartage  of  siicli  Letters  aforesaid  aciording  to  the  respi'ctive  di- 
rectioiis.  and  alsoe  pn-cept  Lctli'is  to  be  sent  by  any  privati'  friend  or  friends  in  their  way 
of  .lourney  or  Travcd  or  by  any  Messenger  or  Messengers  «enl  on  purpose  for  or  loucerumg 
the  iiriva'e  affairs  of  anv  person  or  persons. 

••  And  whocxer  offends  against  'his  act  shall  forfeif  the  sum  of  I'en  pounds,  (Uie  half  to 
their  Maj'ti.'s  towards  the  support  of  the  (iovernir.i'Ul  of  this  rrovime.  the  other  half  to 
the  Post  .Master  tlini'iid,  who  shall  sue  and  prosecute  for  the  sanu-. 

"  And  it  is  hereby  lurlhcr  Knaeted  bv  the  Authority  aforesaid  that  all  Li'tters  and 
Paeciuetts  brought  into  this  I'ost  from  bi'Vimd  sea  (other  lliiiu  such  L-ttcrs  as  are  before  ex- 
ccnted\  shall  bv  the  Importer  be  forthwith  delivereil  to  the  I'oslhouse  or  to  the  Officer 
behmging  thcr  '.■nto.  whi,  li  Ofli-cr  shall  pay  a  half  penny  to  the   Importer  for  each   letter 

or  packet  so  delivered  and   lor  such    Letters  so  br.uight  in  from   h.'V I  .sea  shall  he  pay  d 

bv  the  person  to  whom  di  Mlcd  Two  I'enec,  and  for  a  I'aipiette  ,|uantity  mi  lesse  than  three 
L'etters  besides  hills  of  Loadinu',  Invoices,  (lazclls,  &e.,  four  I'lUice,  and  for  each  Letter 
brought  from  Itnston  to  this  Province  not  exceeding  sixpence  and  d.Mible  for  a  Pac,|uette 
,,nd  s,,  proporconahlv  on  (ellcrs  on  this  siilc  Itoston.  and  for  all  other  L.lters  fnuu  Heyond 
Hoston  shall  be    paid    what   is  the  aecustiuiiary    allowanc.'   in   the   tb.vermt  from  whence 

lliey  came.  .  .1.1. 

'  "Anil  it   is  hereby  also  further  Kuacteil  and  orilaincd  by  the  aullmrity  afores  d,  that 

in  ea nv  Itlh.cr  bclniiL'ing  to  the  Po>l  Olhcc  ,hall  i.mitt    their  duty  in  keeping  eouslaiit 

Posts  for  ihc  cairvint'of  lellcr>  to  th \c,„|  phices  and  stage,  appointed  or  sli.i  II  neglect 

seasonably  and   failhliillv  to  deliver  forth  the    Letters  a. riling  to  the  intent  of   Ibis  uet ; 

such  officer  so  olhui  ling>hall  forfeit  the  Mini  of  Kive  poumis,  ye  one  half  to  llieir  Majesties, 
the  other  half  to  the  party  agie, Mid,  who  >liall  sue  for  the  •■.anie.  ,        ,     ,•         ,     , 

And  all  Letters  eoiiceniing  their  MajcMies  service  shall  he  recnedand  cli-paiiieil 
away  with  all  po,.ible  sped,  ace,  r.liug  to  their  direction,  free  of  all  eliaige  and  without  dc- 
maii'iling   pay   (•><■  the   s e;  any   thing  hcrcinbetoie  coutalned   to  the  contrary   mithwitli- 

"  ''"And  it  is  further  Kuaelcl  and  ordai 1  that  the  Officer  of  the  PmmIiousc  luring  Lieereo 

(iraliled   to   liitaile    Hear,  fiibr  and    .\lc  within   ih  ors.  a riling  to  Law,  sliill   liuve  hm 


■  fro«'  nii.I  no  Offii'cr  "f  tlii<  Kseis 


lii 


iiis  iiiTsmi  III  111'  t'XciiM 


I'll  tViiin  \viitcliiii(.' iiii  '  Wiiiiliiif; 


shiill  ili.min.a  nnv  tliinp  of  liim  fur  «l.o  snmo,  and 
I'nivi'ili'il  iiUiivs  that  this  Art  luir  iiny 


thiiijr  ihiTi'in 


rontaiin'il  sliall  i-uiilinui'  in  I'ni'i'i'  "nv  Imi 


thi-  jiiiblirutiiin  thiTi'i'f.' 


'Thomas  Davis.  8i'i'v. 


pr  than  three  yeurii  from  am 

.loiiN  I'siinn  (l.ieiit.  Governor.; 

'.li 


il  lifter 


;  Hii.i.MAN  (S|ienker.) 


This  attenijit  tn  estalili>li  a  |iiist-"ftiii'  system  in  t 


lie  .\ineviiaii  ('ninnies  was  mai 


liy  Thnma! 
been  issiii 
temiihitei 


Niale.  tn   wl 
.1.    Iillt    III 


liniii   111   vannus 


f'the  enlnnies  a  rnyal  (latent  for  this  (luri 


I  imt.t 

le  had 


ihort  (if  thi.s.  t 


bv   Neaie  was  a   |i 


rranirenients  were  very  In 


iiiiteil  and   iniierfeet.     The   iitiimsl    eon 


i,«t-nftice  ill  eiK 


li  eoniitv,  ami 


.1  his 


itiial  niierations 


fur 


l'KNNSYI.V,\M.\.. 


'  .1.7  i,f  lilt   T.i^is/dliiir  f>f  t! 


P. 


1,1  I'liiiisith-iiiiiii.  iKissrtI  ill  ItWf!. 


To  and  f'-oni  lMiibiilel|ihia  iiy  the  eastern  |ii 


of  New  Kngland  beyond  Hoston.  nine- 


teoii  ]ii 


id  from  I'liila.  to  Lewis  (l^ewis  or  l.ewiston 


Del.)  Maryland,  and  Virjrinia,  nine 


peiiee 


dnee  within  eighty  iiiib's  of  rhiladel|,l.ia.  f.ur  |ienee.  half  |i  •miy 


To  and  from  every  ]  .      . 

All  letters  belollj:illjr  tn  tile  iiilblie,  to  he  ri 


nf  a 


and  thill  tlie  jinst,  juiss  ferria).'e  fr 
de|iendiii^',     ("The  three  lower  eniinti 
Delaware — are  here  referred  In,)" 

■  I'lnvidedalwavs  that  the  said  Andrew  II 


d  and  des|ialehedfreeofall  eliarges, 

il  ferries,  within  the  f-wii  "f  New  Castle  and  eoniitry 


Dehi 


tliev  were  ealli 


(I — iKiw  state  of 


aiiiiltoii  slia 


dl  within  three  month  next  ei.sninj! 


(■reli 


\  certain  davs  ot  In 


ttin^r 


from  riiilaiK  Ipliia  to  New  Vorti,  and  IVoiii  rhiliidel].liia  t 


forth  and  return,  and  shall  eoiitinne  enustant  posls  to  \„ 


aKtle."t 


J, I  ,il  .\l,n,  Dl! 


'  Wiirni'As.  in 


of  Andrew    Hamilton  at 


the  year  Dl!i:!,  a  »reneral   |,ost.otli.e  was  by  law  ereeti  d  at  tlie  re,|iiei.t 
'I'liilad.di.liia.  bv  wliieli  law  a  rale  was   put  ii|ion  all   letters;    .\nd 


whereas  t 


he  ihi 


iif  the  ben 


r^e 


of  tie 


'1| 
I  nlhie    hath 


eh 


lied    the   ]lo^ta';e,  and  beiii^  seli>i 


•li;  of  thi 


id  ollil 


ide  and   eneni  ene.  and  to  the  I'rnvinee  a 


ble 
lid  Territnrie,' 


111  ^elie 

tn  fail  for  w 


111  it  it  I omiiiiieil,  aiil  iif  >.'reat  Inss  that  »i 


lilt  of  eiieniirajiem 


lit.       He  it  Iherefnre  ell 


II  happei,  to  bnlh  if  it  should  liap| 


eted  \e 


It  W 


direeted   bv   tli 


art  t 
I'roviiie 


hat  il iltoii 


.1 Id 


•for  1 1 


r  three  \ear«  tin'  s 


111  •■•Jll  |ioiiiids  siher  money  of  II. 


aiiniialh,  ai 


il  that  the  Ian   •liould  enlilililie  in 


'  \ears,ll 


•  Hist.irkal  Migjrinr,  uil.  III.  |i    Ul- 
t  Hilt.  M.iK    III    I!" 

*  Hi.   Mjb    III    i>i 


XIU. 


"To  llifi  cni  llint  mutiiol  pnrroapon<lcnco  may  he  mnintained,  and  that  letters  may  be 
speedily  and  safely  denpttelied  from  place  to  plaee :  He  it  Knaeted,  by  the  antliority  aforo- 
wiid,  Thiit  a  (leneral  post  offiec  may  be  erected  by  Andrew  Hamilton  of  Pliil'o,  from  whence 
all  li'tters  and  packets  may  be  with  all  expedition  sent  to  any  of  the  parts  of  New  Kngland, 
anil  other  adjiieent  eohmies  in  these  parts  of  America,  at  which  said  office  all  returns  and 
answers  may  be  received. 

"  Anil  be  it  further  Knaeted,  by  the  antliority  aforesaid,  that  it  shall  bo  lawful  for  the 
siiiil  Andrew  Hamilton,  or  some  other  as  shall  bo  appointed  by  the  Kiiip,  to  be  I'ostnmster 
ticnenil,  in  these  jmrts,  and  bin  deputy  or  deputies  in  that  offiic,  to  demand,  receive  and 
take,  for  the  postafre  of  all  such  letters,  so  by  him  conveyed,  or  sent  post  as  aforesaid,  ae- 
eordiiifr  to  the  several  rales  hereafter  mentioned,  and  not  exceed  the  several  rates  liere- 
atler  expressed, 

"  All  fiireijrn  letti'rs  from  Kiiropc,  the  West  Indies  or  any  parts  beyond  the  seas,  two 
pence  each  siiii;le  letter,  whieli  is  to  be  accounted  nuch  allboufrh  it  contain  bills  of  ladinjc, 
invoices,  jriizettcs.  itc. ;  and  for  cnch  packet  of  letters  four  pence.     And  if  packets  or  letters 
beat  the  office  uncalled   for,  the  space  of  forty-ei{;ht  hours,  the  postmaster  then  sending 
theui  forth  to  the  respective  houses,  or  the  persons  to  whom  they  are  directed,  one  |icnny 
more  for  every  such  letter.     "And  for  all  foreign  letters,  outward  bound,  that  shall  be  de- 
livered into  the  post-office,  two  pence  each  letter  or  iiacket.     "  The  post  of  inland  letters  to 
or  from  New  York  to  riiilailelphia,  four  pence  halfpenny. 
"  T  )  or  from  I'hihulelphia  to  Conneetieut,  i)  pence. 
"To  or  Irom  I'liiladclphia  to  h    'de  Island,  twelve  pence. 
"  To  and  I'roni  I'hiladelphia  to  lloston,  lifteen  pence." 

rrcvioiis  to  these  '.'naetincnts  a  law  was  passed  at  i'hila.,  in  March,  lOS.'?,  directing  the 
mode  in  wliicli  letters  on  official  business  were  to  be  dispatched.  It  was  in  the  following 
terms:  "  \Viii:iik,\s  the  (ioverimr  may,  on  nianny  occasions,  be  disapointed  of  obtaining 
true  and  speedy  information  of  public  affairs,  as  well  from  Kurope  as  the  neighboring  colonies 
and  remote  parts  of  this  Tnivincc  and  territories  thereof,  Kor  prevention  of  all  such  ineon- 
venienccs  for  the  future,  lie  it  Knacteil,  by  the  authority  aforesaid,  That  every  Justice  of 
the  Peace,  .'^liiritVor  Cun-lablc  within  ilie  respective  counties  of  this  rroviiiee,  and  terri- 
tories tlicrcnf,  to  whose  liiimls  or  knowlcilge  any  l.ett.^r  or  Ijolters  shall  come,  direeted  to 
or  froui  the  (iovcrnor,  sliall  ilcspalcl,  llicm,  witliin  three  hours,  at  the  furthest,  after  the 

•( ipt  ,,r  kniiwleilge  the, of.  In  the  next  .'Sheriff  or  Conslable,  and  ,so  forwards,  as  the  Ijctter 

ulrect.  upon  the  penalty  nf  twenty  siiiljini's  for  every  hours  delay. 

"  And  in  sinli  cases,  ii  II. lust  ices  of  l  lie  Peace.  SheriHs  or  t'onstablcs  arc  hereby  empowered 
to  prc^s  either  iniin  or  horse  lor  thai  service,  allowing  for  a  horse  or  man,  tv.o  pence  by  the 
mile,  to  be  paid  out  of  the  public  stuck." 

Hamilton,  on  wlimn  the  right  to  carry  the  mail  under  the  acts  of  Kv!).'!  and  I.'IO"  was 
coiifcrrcil.  iipplied  m  'S-i.  lith  mo..  Kill,  by  a  petition  through  Patrick  liobi'i.son  presented 
in  his  bchall,  fur  llic  p.iyiueni  of  tlic  .tiin,  vliicli  had  been  granted  to  liiin,  when  it  was 
ordered  "  tliiit  the  Trea.s'urrr  pay  tlic  said  sum  as  soon  as  lie  shall  have  sufficient  in  his 
li.iiids  lor  the  siiiiic."  He  is  siyh-il  in  the  petition,  "I'ol.  Andrew  Hamilton,  Vmt  Muster 
Uiii'l  III   Aiiiiina"  and   "lio\'  of  the  Jerseys."* 

*  Fiunnciil  Minutri,  II.  Pigc  ji. 


'ii 


XIV. 

r.ovcnu.r  Il.niilton-s  .loatl.  nornrrrd  in  IVlKl  .nul  Ja.nos  T-pan,  in  i.  lottor  t..  WilliMi. 
rem.  ,l.t..,l  Amlu.v.  -titl,,  -,1  .no,  (Si.  Orivinnl)  IVo:!.  tlms  s,.,.nl<s  „t  ,t  :  '■11,.  mnnrn tnl 
,u..,,sio„.,t'nul..inL' ln.ro  is  tl,Hnn.vMlofllK.tvurll,v^^M,tlon.n.onrhu.nt.(H,v.rn,,rl^lm^^^^^^^^ 
tun,  he.  lav  si,'i<  nia  pntri,!  an,l  In^tir  tVv.r  for  al.nit  mmu'  weeks,  .n,l  was)  ,les|melie.l  -(.  ins  . 
in  his  ,ie,-fe...  ,sens,.s  an.l  was  inteve,!  vestenlay  n.  the  attern,.,„r  W  e  ha,l  a,v,se  ,.t  .1  In 
il,o  eveninsr  hefore  hv  the  I'ust  au.l  ,,resen,lv  in  the  news.  W  ilhan,  1  >e.,t  (alter  «h  m 
Trenton  X'.  .1.  was  ealled.)  Tlionias  Karnn'r  and  nuselt  hen,-  all  who  on  lh,it  short  n.ni... 
eonhl  fret  rea.lv  (our  tVie.nls  hein;;  n.oslly  p.ne  to  Sah.p,  nieetin;;)  hast,.nr,l  away  lo  py 
this  last  resne.'-t,  and  came  in   lime  to  meet   the  eorpse  at   the  (, rave,  so  that  now   all   thy 

late  pains  for  an  approhation  in  his  favor  are  h.st  and  our  en. s  unhappily  f;ralihe<l  .un'O 

more." 

'  Colonel  .Tohn  Ilaniill.m  of  New  .Tersev  and  son  of  (ioverm.r  Andrew  Hamilton,  first 
devised  the  T.^st  OIlie,.  srheun'  for  ilrilish  Ameriea,  for  whieh  he  (dilained  a  patent  and 
the  |irolits  aeerninj.'.  Afterwards  he  sold  it  to  the  erowii,  and  a  mendor  of  rarbamenl  wa.s 
unpointed  for  the  whole  with  a  rijihl  to  have  his  snhstitute  reside  in  New  York.' 

».».•♦*♦♦ 
Charles  Ueail,  in  I'hiladelphiii,  wrilln):  to.T.mathan  Diekinscni,  in  Janiaiia,  New  Jersey, 
Anjinst  17,  V.ty.i.  savs,     -  The  death  of  our  (ioveriior  Hamilton  has  hroken  all  our  nnasnres, 
1  donht  we  -hall  not  hi-  »o  happy  in  anoth.T,  he  heini?  an  iillahle.  nimlerate  man  and,  as  tar 
as  I  I'onld  ohserve  free  from  llnit  nvarieions  humor  too  pro.hindimnt  anion).'sl  ns." 

These  extracts  are  froin  thi'  vahiahh.  "  l,o;;:in  Mannseripts'  in  the  possession  of  the 
Ameriean  rhilo,..phieal  SkIi'Iv.  One  of  the  ni  asures  r.^lVrred  to  in  this  letter,  was  the 
plan  to  ethot  a  union  in  leL'isla'lion  hetween  the  I'rovinee  and  Territories,  and  I'rou.l  thus 
refers  I o  the  eirenmstanee  ;  ■•  i-'or  they  had  not  aeeepted  lh(.  new  idiarler  ;  and  they  had 
thri.e  years  allowed  them  to  si^rnify  their  refusal.  I'or  this  purpose  Hamilton  la'.ori.d  nnieh 
with  tiieni  and  used  manny  arj.onnent.s  to  iminee  them  to  unite,  hut  without  sueci'ss.' 

The  (ptli< f  postnuister-fieneral  for  Anuriea  had  lieen  ereated  in  Hi!"!.     The  rates  of 

iKistaire  wiue,  |..r  eiudity  miles  or  under  t*  penee.  Trom  New  York  lo  I'hiladelphia  '■>  peine. 
To  \  iiL'inia  1'J  peine  l-'or  a  huij;  time  the  expenses  of  the  offiie  exeeided  the  ineonie 
Inlil  aft,  r  ITl'J  there  was  no  reiiuhir  post  fnrlhi'r  I'ast    than  Hoston,  or  further  Ke>t  than 

I'hiladelphia.      In  that  y ■  Lord  Cornhury  writing'  to  the  piver enl  at  honn'  says.     "H' 

I  have  any  lelti-r  to  send  to  litlor  \ir).'inia  or  .^Iaryland,  I  must  either  siinl  an  express, 
who  is  often  retardeil  for  want  of  hoals  to  ero-,.  tho--  f.'1'i'al  rivers  ihi'y  must  p.  over,  or 
else  for  .vaiit  of  horses  ;  or  else  1  mu-t  send  iheui  hy  some  pa-seiip'rs  who  are  piin;.'  thither. 
The  least  1  have  known  any  exp'o-s  to  lak.'  loio-e  !■.  \  ir^rinia  has  heeii  three  week«  " 

.><liortlv  afl.r  the  ilate'of  ihi-  lell.r.  siaf;e.i na.hes  were  eslahlishid  helwei'ti  lloston 
nnil  N.w  N'ork  and  llosion  and  l'liilad<lphia  ;  loil  no  po-toffiee  was  eslahliloMl  in  \'ir):_iniii 
until  IT.'I'J  ;   nor  did  any  postal  ro\i  nue  aiirue  to  lireat  Itrilain  from  the  eolonies  until  IToo 

III  I'hiladilpliia  the  olil  Cofh'e-Hou«e  system  prevaili.d  for  luaiiy  years,  hi  Virv'i  lia, 
the  nmil-ha;;  was  passi  il  aloii);  from  planter  to  planter  ;  eaeli  hein;.'  rennired  hy  law  (passed 


♦  \V.it,un'i  Annals  ot  I'ImIj.  Vol    l.  p.  ;i;l. 


t 


wl 


XV. 

in  1757'  tn  s..nd  n  nicssengor  with  it  to  lii«  noxt  neighbor,  under  penalty  as  before  mentioiied 
of  a  hofr,hi„d  uf  tobacco.    Kvery  man  took  out  of  the  bag  his  own  letters  and  sent  ou  the 

In  W.)->  as  has  been  seen,  the  office  of  postmaster  general  for  North  America  was 
created,  but  as  b.tc  as  17(14  no  po.st-ridcr  went  further  North  than  Boston,  and  no  furtl.er 
Soutli  llii.u  Chinlest.in.  And  even  twenty  years  afterwards  tlierc  was  no  post  into  the  in- 
terior of  thiM'ountry.  ,,     ,       Tl   .,•  1     T>       •    •„„„ 

In  171(t  .■,  ti.neral  I'ust  Offi.e  was  estal)lisl.ed  in  London  for  all  the  British  Dominions 
„i,d,r  one  dire.tor  .ailed  a  |,o.tinast,.r-f:eiuTal,  who  had  letter-offiees  at  Kdiu'mrg,  Dublin, 
New  Vn,k,,,ul  oilier  eouveiiient  place.'*;  the  Deputy-postmaster  general  for  the  colonies 
wiis  to  residi'  in  New  \ork.  . ,    ,,       ttt      i  i-       .    ti.„ 

Tho  following  i.<  that  portion  of  the  Act  of  1710  and  of  that  of  1.  Geo.  Ill,  relating  to  the 

Colonies. 

/7/-.V/  A,/  nf  rarluuiwiit  coKsoMulhi!;  l/ir  Post  OjJUr  in  Gmit  Brilain  ami  her  Co/onies, 
WiAiiiii:  17111. 

••  And  to  the  end  that  ;.  geneiai  post  office  may  be  established  for  and  throughout  Iler 
Mujestvs  KiuL'.lnm  ic.  and  Colonies,  in  such  nnnner  as  shall  prove  most  hcnehcial  to  tlio 
IVooleAc  he  it  enacted  by  Parliament  that  from  and  after  tlie  hrst  dav  ot  June,  l-H, 
there  be  one  general  1'.  ()'.  for  < Jieat  llrilain,  Ireland,  N.  Amer.  West  Indies  &c.  One 
.Master  aio  onl.'.l  from  time  t,.  time  bv  llic  l^iceu,  by  Letters  Patent— Name— Iler  Majesty  8 
J'ost  Master  (Icncral,  allowed  to  keep  one  Chief  Letter  Office  ill  New  lofk  ana  ..tlier  chict 
offices  ill  each  of  the  Colonies  of  N.  A.ncr.  lie  has  the  power  to  appoint  Deputies  or  sub- 
stitutes  and  no  other  p.ers.ois  arc  permi.ted  to  prepare  or  provide  Horses  and  Inrniture  to 
let  to  any  other  person  than  the  above. 


To 


Fr. 


POST.ICK  AS   FOLLOWS  ; 

,r  fnim  N   Y  to  any  place  within  till  Kng.  miles- Single  ]  4  pence. 

Double  S^  H  jicnce. 
Treble  I  one  .shilling. 
Ou'ice     one  shilling,  4pcnce 


n.it  ex.ccding  inO  Kng.  miles,  (i  pen.  1  sh.,  1  sli.  \  li  I"'»- '-«''■ 
.,P.,.h.^n.,oy(.Icrscy)to,u,yplacc,,o.cxcced,,,gOOKn^^ 

.      N    Y.  to  New  Loml.  (Oonnt)  \  Philad'a  !)  p.,  I  sh^\  <i  p.,  2  sh.  \  .•!  p.,  !i  sh. 
.      IM.ila  to  place  not  cxcee.ling  <iil  Kug.  miles  4  p.,  H  p     1  sh     1  sli.  &  4  p 

'..  •  lllll     "  "     t)  p  ,  1  sb  .  I  sh.  \  I)  p.,  1  sh. 

..      \    V    to  „i,v  pboe  in  l(.  I.,  Mass.,  N.  Ilan,,-  ,  .Maryland  I  .sh     "i  .sh     I!  sh..  4  sh. 
..     ;,b.,vc  lo  anV  place  not  ,..vcceding  .1.1  miles,   I  p.,  H  p.,  1  sh        sh.  >^      p. 

•       ..  ..  lllll     ••        (i  p.,  1  sh.,  1  sh.  lip.,  •!  sh. 

.      N.  Y    to  .>^alcm  (Mass  )  „„d  to  Voginia-l  sh.  :!  p.,  'l  sh.  .V  dp     :1  sh    .S:  !)  p.,  o  sh. 
..     .,,„„,.  ,„  Miiy  place  m.l  exceeding  liO  miles,  4  p  ,  S  p.,  I  si,     1  sh.  .S    4  p. 
•    '   ..  ..  Iijil     •■       ti  p.,  1  sh.,  I  sh.  A;  0  p.,  -  »u. 


ri 


xvt. 


From  N.  Y.  to  Dmrles  Town  (South  rnrol.)— 1  »li.  Si  fi  p.,  3  sli.,  4  xli.  &  6  p.,  fi  sh. 
"     above,  not  cxeopdinjt  tiO  iiiilos,  4  p.  S  p.,  1  »li-,  1  fli.  «  4  p. 
11)0      "     0  i> ,  1  »li.,  1  fli.  &  (')  p.,  2  sli. 
All  Dcputys  or  Apciils,  when  riding  I'osl.  iiro  to  W  allowc.l  to  cross  ami  recross  all 
Ferries  without  any  oharjre  heiiifr  made.     All   Ferrymen  to  pass  all  afieuts  of  the   1  .  O. 
within  a  half-hour  after  denuuid  is  made,  or  forfeit  i!;').* 


"  Ah  Act  to  alter  certain  Rates  nf  Pasta ^e,"  ,(•<■.,  e.\la/,/i\/ieil  in  the  Heiun  of  Queen  Anne. 

This  act  goes  into  effect  Oet.  Kith  1705  and  is  in  suhstniue  (for  the  e.donics)  as 
f.dhiNvs  : 

I,etters  from  or  to  London  from  any  port  in  Itrit.  Am.  1  .sh.,  2  .sh,,  I!  sh.,  4  sh. 

From  any  I'ort,  by  sea,  to  any  other  port,  in  Urit.  Am.  4  penee,  S  penee,  1  sh.,  1  sh.  4  p. 

For  inland  eonvcyanee — (iO  Hrit.  miles — 4  Ji.,  8  ]>.,  I  sh.,  1  sh.  4  p. 
l(l((     ■'  '•         (i  p.,  I  sh.,  1  sh.  li  p.,  •!  sh. 

•>m     "         "         8  p.,  1  sh.  4  p.,  l!  sh.,  •.;  .sh.  S  p. 
more  than  2(10  Hrit.  miles,  (or  every  10(1  miles  'J  p.,  4  p.,  0  p.  S  p. 

All  letters  hroujiht  hy  passeufrers  of  vessels,  or  others,  are  to  be  delivered  to  the  V.  0. 
for  distribution  bv  the  Dc'puties  ;  under  a  penalty  of  jt;"). 

Nn  vessel  is  allotted  to  break  bulk,  until  all  letters  are  delivered  to  the  proper 
authorities. 

Certain  persons  are  to  be  appi.inted  to  survey  and  nn-asure  distances  on  the  I'ost 
Jioads  ;  to  be  recorded  in  hooks,  copies  of  which  are  to  be  left  depo.sited  in  all  the  chief 
1'.  Offices  in  the  Colonies.t 

1717. 

In  llec.  17H>  Jonathan  niekinsipu  writes  to  his  correspdudent,  saying'.  "We  haven 
scttleil  piist  frum  Virjiiuia  to  Maryland  unio  us,  and  pies  throufih  all  nur  Niotliern  Colonies, 
whereby  advices  fnuu  licistnn  to  Williamsburj.'  in  \iri.'inia  is  ccimiibled  in  fuur  weeks,  from 
March  to  December,  and  in  double  that  time  in  the  other  months  of  the  year."  X 


A.  SeoTswoori  to  Cunii.  ns  I'ost  Okfick,  17311. 

(Jeenninna  Jit/t/  t/r  \\l\t  I7o0. 


t^m  :- 


I  am  now  semliup  the  bearer.  .'Mr.  William  I{uss(dl,  to  transact  and  prepare  .Matters, 
fnr  sclliufia  rcfjuhir  I'ost  ('lOTespimdcncc,  which  may  reach  so  far  .'^loilhward  as  throii|r|i 
the  I'cdonv  of  \'ii).'ihia.  I  l:iki'  ocassi^u  to  Nutify  In  ynur  llnuour  my  bein;:  charjji'd  with  the 


*  Stat,  at  Latgp      9.   Annr.   1710. 

t  Eng.  Rpv.  Stilt,  vol.  -   f.  (oj.     I.  Oto.  III. 

J  Watson's  Annals  onMiila.  vol.  a  p.  391. 


XVII. 


Cure  nnd  rondiiot  of  His  Miijesly's  Post  within  your  (jovcrnment,  as  well  as  through  all  yc 
I'roviiici'n  on  ye  ('ontinont  of  North  Anierien  iinJ  Islands  in  ye  West  Indies  ;  and  as  I  nan- 
nol  doulit  of  your  pM  disposition  to  Countenance'  an  undertaking  which  is  entirely  cal- 
culated to  benefit  Trade,  and  iironiote  His  Majesty's  Ucvcnue,  I  rest  assured  that  the  Post 
Officers  will  under  yoiir  Administration  uie.  with  ..11  needful  Protection,  which  must  en- 
Baifc  nie  to  lav  hold  on  everv  occasiiui  to  testily  that  I  am 
"  -^  '  Sir,  Your  Honour's 

Most  Obedient  Humble  Servant, 
A.  Spdtswood. 
The  Ilon'ble  Ooven'r  fioRnoN.* 

The  forpjroinfr  laws,  documents  and  citations  will  have  shown  the  condition  of  Postal 
eomihiinication  in  this  country  to  the  year  1710. 

l''nr  forty  vears  after  the  jmssagc  of  the  Act  of  Queen  Anne  there  was  very  little  per- 
cci.tilili'  im.irovcmenl.  The  (lost-roads  were  pMierally  in  bnd  condition,  the  riders,  although 
then  perfectly  hiyal,  were  not  trustworthy,  iind  the  postmiislcrs  j)robably  not  much  better. 
The  followini:  experience  is  illustrative  of  this  jioint.  When  Benjamin  Kraiiklin  printed  the 
••  Pennsylvania  (lazcttc"  in  ITMll,  Andrew  Bradford  printed  the  ■•  Mercury  ;"  the  two  were 
naturallV  opposcil  to  ca<h  other,  and  in  particular  in  their  efforts  to  obtain  the  advcrtismg 
putrona^'C  of  the  vicinity  ;  now  Bradford  being  Postmaster,  used  his  influence  to  exclude 
the  '•  (ia/.ettc"  from  the  "mails,  and  with  .some  success,  the  public  supposing  from  not  seeing 
Franklin's  paper  so  frei|ucntly  as  the  "  Mercury"  that  the  latter  was  the  best  advertising 
medium,  and  acting  accordingly.  Franklin  did,  however,  both  send  and  receive  papers  by 
the  post  but  he  did  it  by  bribiiig  the  riders.  Itradford's  conduct  in  forbidding  the  riders 
to  carry' the  ■  Oazette,'' excited  the  disgust  of  Franklin,  "I  thought  so  meanly  of  the 
practice,"  he  says,  "  that  when  I  afterwards  came  into  his  situation  I  took  care  never  to 

imita'e  it.t  .  if. 

The  Post-mastership  an-',  newspaper-printing  were  cminuonly  united  in  our  early  history. 

Thus  in  ITl'.t,  (Uie  .fr'.m  Campbell,  postmaster  of  Boston,  who  published  the  "News 
LettcT,"  was  turned  (oit  of  his  positi.ui  as  postmaster  :  but,  feeling  aggrieved  at  liis  removal, 
he  would  not  dispose  of  his  pape^  and  his  successor  in  office,  William  linickcr,  started  a 
iiapcr  of  his  own,  called  the  ■  Boston  ;;M7.ctte, "  being  advised  so  to  do  by  the  merchunts 
of  Boston,  who  stated  that  tlw^  had  "  be.  n  /)«•«■«/«/ from  having  their  newspaper  sent  them 
by  the  Post  ever  since  .Mr.  Ciiiipbc'        s  removed  from  being  postmaster. 

■  But  Brocker  had  been  ap|.ninti  '■  the  Colcmial  postmast.T,  and  when  he  had  been 
but  a  few  months  in  offic.  news  came  .  Inun  Kngland  that  the  postiiiastcr-gcncral  had 
appointed   to  the  position   one  Philip  M  .    rravc.      As  the   central   office  was  of  cimrsc  the 

authority.  .MasL'rave  took  tl fficc.  and  boi.ght  from  Brocker  his  newspaper.     Now  Brocker's 

paper  had  been   printed  by  .lames  Franklin,  by  wh.uu   Hcnjainiii   Franklin  was  employed  ; 

but  Masgravi'  cl sing  to' ploy  another  printer.  Mr.  Franklin's  resentment  was  kindled, 

and  In  spile  of  ihe  advice  of  his'  friends,  he  .started   a   third  newspaper  called   the   "  New 
Kio'land  Courant,'  for  Hhicli  Benjamin  set  type,  wrote   poetical  contributions  and  acted  as 


*  I'cnn    Anhups,  v.il.  I,  pp.  164,  ^ 

t  I'jriiin'j  Litr  ot  Ktankliii,  vol.  1.  p.  196. 


XV11I. 


iwpi 


Thus  tlic  nppointinrnt  of  n  now  postiimstiT  was  the  ciiusc  nf  stnrtinjr  two  iii  ws- 
1  till-  lity  uf  liustiMi,  wliile  it  brmifrlit  alimit  Heiijaiiiiii  KniTikliii's  lirst  cuutliit  Willi 


post  mil  St  ITS. 
No  mail 
Cdliiiiial  I'.ist  OiXir 


Aim- 


ictciitificd   with   the  ciirlifst   anil  hitost    iiitiTcsts  of  llie 


H. 


In  1T;!T 


vhrii  In-  lieUl  tl 


iiiamii 


I  l''raiil\lin. 


11'  posilioi 


iif  (Mi'ik  (if  till'  I'riiiisvlviiniii  Asscmlilv.  ho  roi 


.1 


:u'  a|ip(iiiitiiioiit  1 

■    HI,] 


10   itussossod 


r 

iilvaiit 


f  I'u.-liiiaslor  (if  IMiiladolpliiii ;  unil  as  ho  was  then  jnililisliin);  his  "  ( ia/.otio" 
mill  ilisiriliiiliiif.'  liis  papor.  whi.h  fiavo  liiiii 


lilii's  fur  iihli 


iiiiii;;  HOWS 


iijxo  tivor  a 


II  iillior  ]irinlois  ami  oilitn 


and 

Kast 

Ann 


111  IT-'T  tho   Mail  111  Annapolis  is  .iponod,  this  yoar  tn  pi  cm 


itni'dit  in  snniiiior 


11100  a  moll 
0111  slioro 


ih  ill  winlor, 


Casth'  &o.,  to  tho  Wisloi-n   shoro  ami  hack    to   tin 


■d  In    William  Itradford  in    I'hila.lolphia,   and  h_v  William   I'aiks  in 


id  X 


'In    17;l><  Ilonry  I'ratI   is  mado  ridinj.'-postinastor  for  all   iho  slajfos  hotw 


I'hila 


owport  ill 


Vir^'inia  :  to  sot  out  in  tho  liooinniii};  of  oaoli  moiilli  and  to  roturn  in  Iwontv- 
iilido  thoir  li'ttor.s  and  othor  biisiiioss,  ho  having 


four  days.     To  him  all  moroliaiits  \i'.  may 
given  soourity  to  tho  postiimstor  gonoral. 


'  In  ]74.'>.Iohn  llallov  siirvovor  states  that  ho  has  just  mado 


ofll 


10  road  from 


Tronlon    to   Ainlioy,  and  has  sot  np  marks  at  ovory   two  iiiilos  ;o  guido   tho   tr 
was  doiio   by   jirivato  siibsoriiilions,  and  ho  pro]ioso 
Now  Vork  ill  the  saiiio  way  if  a  sum  oaii  ho  mado  u] 


■r.      It 
to  do  tho  wliolo  -oad  from  I'hila.  to 


'In  174Hwhon  I'rofossor  Kaliii  arrived  at  I'hila.  from  Lomlo 


of  the  inhabitants 


1  board  lii 


id  for  letters.     Si 


eh 


ore  not  oalled  for  wore  taken  to  tl 


■fle 


10  eotlee- 


lli 


vliero  everybody  eoiild  iiiafci'  impiiry  for  them.' 


Till 


Ills  showiii, 


did  not  yet  elaim  a  right  to  their  distribution. 


g  that  tlio  post-odieo 


Snob  was  the  eondilion  of  things,  when   in  IT.'i!!,  by   appoiiitiiiont  of  the   I'osI  Master 

loniniissionod   to  .siieieod   the   Deputy 


Gonoral.  lii'iijainin   I'ranklin  ai 


pu.stniastor  gone 


lev  wi'ro  a 


Tl 

uiiiit  of  prolit 
till  ■ 


al  fur  the  Colo 
llowed  ,t:!l)(l  a 


id   W'"  Hunter   were 
>t  dei'oaseil. 


loh,  pioviilod  thev  eonld  niaki'  the  otiiee  vie  Id  that 


that   Snmnior  (17^11!)    I'ranklin    with    his  neeii.stoniod   energy,   prooi 


■d.'d    t.i 


systematize  and  arrange  the  departnioiit,  and   to  that  end  sot  out  on  a  tour  of  inspeeti^ 


id 


.ited 


■very  p' 


st-ollie 


o  111  the  eoiiii 


III  17.'iii,  thi'  delivery  of  bttirs  by  tie'  pi 


try  e.Mopt  that  of  ( 'liarloslon,  S.  (' 


liny  pi 


si  was  (irsi  111 


began  the  praotiee  of  .idvortisiiig  romaiiiiiig  lollorii  in   llie  olho 


At  the  same  linn 
The    lelli  rs  for  all    tin 


Wjtson'b  Annali  of  I'hilj.  vul,  II. 


XIX. 

neiKliboriiif!  counti.'S  went  t<.  Philadelphia,  and  lay  there  till  called  f"'T*,''V"'  l"""'  ^^ 
Xowt.iwn,  liiistol,  Chester,  New  Castle,  &e.,  are  t»  he  euUed  for  in  I'hiadelplmi. 

In  ITf)!  Kianklin  L'ave  niptiee  that  the  mail  to  New  Kngland  whieh  used  to  start  but 
onee  a  forlni.'ht  in  winter,  should  start  onee  a  week  all  the  year,  whereby  answers  might 
be  obtained  to  letters  between  I'hila  and  Hoston,  in  three  weeks,  whieh  used  to  reciuiro  six 

"*"  After  four  years  ,.f  Franklin's  rule  the  Post  Offiee  yi.lded  the  salary  of  the  postmasters, 
and  a  small  revl.nu.^  besides,  and  in  1774  a  elear  annual  revenue  of  XaoOIJ  to  (,reat  Uritain. 
As  an  illustration  of  the  wav  in  whieh  post-.ifliees  were  attended  in  those  days  we  may 
ref..r  to  Krauklin,  who  writes  iu  i7.-i7,  "  Mr  Colden  (postmasterat  New  York)  eould  not  spare 
his  dauL'liler,  as  slie  heliis  liim  in  the  post-offiee,  lie  haviust  no  clerk."    ,         ^  .  . 

The  tirst  years  experiment  bnui^-lit  Franklin  ill  debt  £900,  yet  he  refers  with  great 
salisfietion  to  his  sueeess  iu  expediliu)!  the  mails.  . 

"In  17.^S,  newspapers  whieli  aloretime  were  earried  post  free  per  uiail,  wi.l,  by  tlio 
r..ason  of  their  irreat  in,rease,  he  changed  thereafter  to  the  small  priee  of  !)d.  per  year,  tor 
tiftv  miles,  and  Is.  tid.  fur  one  hundred  miles.  This  was,  most  probably  the  private  emolu- 
uie'iit  ..f  the  rider  ;   the  papers  themselv.'S  probably  not  having  been  mailed  at  a  1. 

The  following  letter  throws  some  light  on  one  of  Franklin's  eftorts  to  make  the  Post 
Offue  a  .Mmveniem.e  ;  Washington  was  at  the  lime  Commander  in  Chief  o  the  \  irgiuia 
forces  raised  to  protect  tlie  frontiers  frcun  the  Indians  and  French.  His  head.imir.ers  were 
at  Winchester.  Franklin  in  his  capacity  of  Deputy  Postmaster,  or  rather  the  postmaster- 
(r,.„eral  for  the  Colonics  had  the  year  previous,  during  Hiadih.ck's  niareli  arranged  a  post 
between  I'hiladelphia  and  Wineliester.  in  eonse(,uence  of  a  vote  of  the  1  euusylviinia 
Assembly. 

To  (!i:im(iE  W,\siiin<ito.n. 
Co/ini/iiiicr  iiflhr  Miiil  for  tlic  ArcitiiKxlation  of  the  Arm;/. 

Philadelphia,  W  August  1756. 

I  have  vour  favors  of  July  "JOd  and  August  3d,  but  that  ymi  mention  to  have  wrote  by 
Mr  Itulf.iur'is  not  .ome  to  hand.  1  forwarded  the  ],acket  enclosed  m  that  ot  July  •-.id  as 
.liiict.d,  and  shall  readily  take  charge  of  any  c'her  letters  from  you,  that  pass  through  my 

"""  The  post,  between  this  place  ami  Winchester,  was  established  for  the  aeconimodation 
of  the  armv  chieHv.  hv  a  vote  of  our  Assembly.  ,  .    ,.         ,      ,  .        i 

Thev  are  not' willing  to  continue  the  .barge,  and  it  must,  I  believe  be  dropped,  unless 
vour  Assembly  and  that  of  Maryland  will  c.mtinue  to  support,  it,  which,  perhaps  is  scarce 

'"  ''Ya,r'sonv  it  slamld  be  laid  down,  as  1  shall  myself  be  a  loser  in  the  affair  of  News- 
liaiiers  (  \t  this  time  Franklin  printed  and  published  a  Newspaper  in  Phi  adelphia.)  Jlut 
ihe  letl.r.s  per  post  by  n.i  means  defray  the  expense.     If  you  can  iirevail  with  your  Assembly 

•  Watsiin'i  Annjls  vol.  II.  p.  y)l  d  iti\. 


XX. 


with  grout  csti'fiii  and  resptct,  &(•.,  j^    Khanki.in."* 

^^'''    In  1756  •■  British   Pao.,u<.t   Boats  nro  first  ann.n.n,,.,!  l,...w,...n   N.w   V"rk  an.l  l^.!- 
„>outh.  the  ....stage   of    ea.-h'sinKh.   letter    to   h'   f,..r  ,,ent,y«e.^'h.s  nt  siUer  '    •   ' 

r-o'a  lie  of  sTa.'es  is  set  n,,  for  New  York,  to  start  twue  a  week,  usn.f!  lliiee  .la^s 
in  f^^^g  througli,  .U  -1  ,,enee  1  n.ile.  It  was  a  eovered  .lersey,  w.-hon.  s,,nn«s,  and  l,ad 
four  owners  ciineerned."  t  i  •       i 

The   following  letter   shows   the   interest   th:.t   was_  heginnins  t«   W  a.oused   m  the 


[lowing 
home  (government,  in  pos 


till  comnmnieal ion;  international  and  intereoloiiial. 


Krw   Halifax  to  tiov.  1'knn. 

.S7.  Jaiiies,  Aiisiiixl  Will  1704. 


Sm; 


portanee  and  advantage  tn  His  Majesty's  Servieo,  and  to  the  Com- 
mereial  interest  and  (ieneral  Conveiiienee  of  His  Majesty^  Snhjeets  ,n   N"';!!-,  A"...nea 


It  heing  of  great  iin]" 


•i'lilated  and  extended  llirouglumt 


that  the  Convevame  of  hellers,  hv  the  Tost,  should  he  faeili  i-        ,        , 

ho  ('1,  ies  uro„  that  extensive  i'ontii.ent,  His  Mujeslys  Post  Master  (.eneral  is  eonee  t- 
g  uea  un's  t  ,r  those  purposes,  and  as  it  eannot  he  douh.ed  but  the  Legislatures  of  the 
te     It"  onies  will  reildilv  and  ehoerfuUy trihu.e  to  .he  .sueeess  o.  a  Plan,    roni  w He 

"^  • '       safe  and  speedy  (orresiiondenee,  1  am 


hey  niav  expee.  .o  derive  .he  IteneH.  of  a  regular,  sate  and  spee.ly  orresponOen  e  i  m 
Imian'led  to  signifv  to  you  His  Majes.ys  Pleasure,  .ha.  you  should  reeoniniend  .to  .1,0 
Ce  Iv  of  .he('ol.-|,v  under  vour  (iovernnien.  .o  provide  for  .he  Ks.ahlishinen.  ot  I  ernes 
uid  eree.ing  proper  l{uildii,gs-on  .he  wa.er  side,  wherever  .he  same  may  he  to.ind  neees- 


vou'wiu'^vo  vou^'eiiuMaiitAid  and  Supp.lr.  .o  .lie  Pos.  Maslers  wi.hin  your  (iov..r,,inen., 
L"he  Lecuti..!.  of  their  offiee,  whieh  is  so  iiiiinedia.ely  ealeiila.ed  tor  .he  puldiek  Beneht. 
I  am  wi.li  griat  Tru.h  and  Hegard, 

(<ir,  your  most  idiedien.  Huiidde  .Servant, 
,,.     ,    ,  KiNX    Hai.i.ax. 
Pen.n,  Ks(|r.,  Lieut,  fiovenor  of  Pensilvania.t 

•  Siutk's  Lite  and  Writings  of  Franklin,  vol    VII.  ;>(•    in,  ■". 

*  Penn'u  Atchivrt  vol.  IV.  p.  jol. 


XXI. 

On  tlu.  Sth  of  Novpiiib.T  \-M  Franklin  siiilml  fur  Ki.ghiiul,  liin  third  voyage  ;  rcniaimng 
a1)r.m.l  iinlil  \"i>.  His  i>r(il..nf;tHl  ulisciice  fruii.  liis  post,  was  iiiade  the  excuse  for  an  ettort 
on  lliv  i.iMt  of  his  enemies  to  eon.pass  his  .liscliar^-e  from  his  oflieial  iiosition,  even  as  early 
as  ITtiX,  tlie  r,.al  reason  being  as  he  believed,  his  "  being  too  mneh  ot  an  American.  It  was 
then  the  inaeliee  t,i  allow  the  non-residence  .,f  American  officers,  provided  care  was  taken 
that  their  bnsiness  was  done  by  Depnty  or  otherwise. 

This  alVuir  blew  over,  bn.  in  1774  Franklin  having  made  h.msell  nnmerons  ';"'=""7,^y 
the  eircnlation  of  the  "  llntehin.s,n>  Corresp.mdenee,"  was  c.tcd  before  the  «^;""'"»«;-'  »  « 
l>rivv  fonncil,  and  exanm.ed  in  refere.ice  to  ,i„  I'etilh.n  of  the  Assembly  ot  .Massachusetts 
or  li.e  renmval  of  (iovernor  llut.hinson,  and  also  in  relatiot.  to  the  letters,  who»e  publicity 

h-.d  b..en  the  immediate  cans '  this  a.'ti.in.    l>nringtwo  separate  sessums  ot  the  <  ommittec 

Krankln^vas  baited  and  b„..gered  by  their  Connsel,  until  the  decision  was  bnally  rendered 

"''''Tin*?!;:;; dil^wlmJllaSanuarv  :Ust  .774.  Franklin  received  hi,  dismissal  from  the  office 

•"'  ''Si:; r::;;;:!::,!  bri^ilald^:;:!!  ^f."  .--  -ting  of  the  continental  congress,  atid 

""'^The'f,':i;:::ln 'his'.''^  .;;;!;  l;:iL  W.  persecutors  was  un. ided.     It  was  ^i.  tndy 

,1„„  th..  disn.is,;i  of  l.r.  Franklin  from  his  position  was  e,,uivalcnt  to  a  sei.nre  f '  '«  ;^  '<-''^»;] 
I'ust-Office  ■   that  ,.nlv  erealnres  of  the  Ministry  were  to  be  appoin  cd   Post  Ma.s  ers  ,  and 
h  t   it    w^'.       ''"Pr   .safe   to   trn.st   the   letters  of  patriotic  Americans  to  the  Malls.     , So 
J;:ne;allv  we"  yZir  arrangements  made  t^.r  carrying  letters   that  the  American  Post 
Office  never  again  contrihnted  a  fartliing  to  the  Hritish  Ireasury. 
»♦*•*** 
The  f.dlowing  ,,"olations  will  exhibit  what  was  doing  in  postal  matters  at  the  period 
we  have  just  hei'n  con.-idering. 
,--  IMIOUK  ISL.VNI). 

nted  and  resolv.,!,  that  this  (ieneral  Assembly   will  join  with   the  other  colonics 
;  ,  "t  „ffi..cs  and  post  riders,  in  order  to  pres.'rve  an  intereonrse  be  ween  the 


!rfl'r!Sb^ri;;^h;iirp!:::!.':own;*:;;d";:ii;e^ 

m"; ;;;;;;  Ih!:;::^;,,:  wi!l."w  tl.  presen,,  defray  the  expense  of  post  riders  thronghont  this 

""'1;  ;:'":;:c;":;:li';;i^  n'lied,  .1,..  post  offices  1.,  an,,  hereby  - -'^jiif  ff  ^,;^« 

f  II  ,.;„„  ,l„.es   to  wit     at   Newpnrt,  I'rovidenee,  Hii.stol,  Warren,  lower  Hill,  m  Nnitl 
Kingslllwii:;;!  Westerly -ami  tLt 'the  t^dlowing  persons  be,  and  hereby  are.  appointed 

•'""'  l":;'Cnorr'Mr  Xathaniel  Otis  ;  Providence,  Mr.  John  Carter  ;  Hristul  Mr  .Jonathan 
l^,ssen;   WamniMr.Shnbart   Hnrr  ;'  Tower   Hill,  Mr   Hay  Sands  ;   \\  estcrly,  Mr.  Joshua 

""'"lit  forthcr  voted  and  resolved,  that  the  rates  and   duties  for  postage  of  letters,  be  as 
follows,  to  wit ; 


>  Si'Jik^'  l.ilV  and  Writings 


„1-  Franklin  vol.  VII.  p   4°5.  l'-""-"''  l-'^'  of  Franklin  vol.  I,  rP-  59+  «•  «1- 


xxu. 


RalrxnfPi>!'l'i:4riiillirCi>lmilinfJihixlfhlitiiil.       ,.    j,],         j 

For  nnv  (listniipp  ii"t  ox<xH(liii);  sixty  milos  ..  "     J^     i"  1- • 

••    siitv  iml.'.- an'l  »"t  oxcr.Mlini:  cmc  liuiulm  uiilos      .    "  «■ 

•'    ,„H. 'imiKlifd.iiil.s.nn.l  lint  ,xnT,liiint«(.lmn(livd  miles  0     (I  1(11-4. 

••    two         ""•'■"      "  "     !■ 

..     .""'       tivo        ■■  "     0     1     "1-4. 

..       .'  sovoii       •■  "     0     »     tl. 

'*"'                                                      .            '•   I  1       ■'           "  0     "     •'  1-- 

"    seven     •'  "       "      '  ''"^"'  7,    " 

..    oi„lit       •■  mill'        "  '       "     -     "■ 

,,    „j7„,       "  "       "       "  "  "lie  tlinusnmi     "  '•     -     !*■ 

The  iihnve  rates  to  be  pni.l  in  Inwf.il  money,  of  this  eohmy,  unci  iire  for  the  imstii^-e  of 
a  -in-le  letter.  Thev  are  to  he  douhle.l  for  all  .louMe  letters,  trehled  for  all  trehl,.  letter.,; 
and  tor  every  miiiee  weiiiht,  four  times  so  mmli  is  to  lie  eliavv'ed  as  lor  a  siiifrle  letter. 

It  is  further  voted  and  res.dved,  that  Mr  I'eter  .Mumford  lie,  and  he  is  hereliy,  aviiomted 
the  Host  rider  from  yewiiort  to  I'rovidenee  ;  and  .Mr  Uenjamin  Mumford  the  post  rider  Iroin 
Newport  to  New  London  :  and  that  they  neither  receive  nur  deliver  any  lettcr,s  from  any 
post  offiee  heretofore  established  in  this  ecdimy. 

It  is  further  voted  and  resolved,  that  Messrs.  Joshua  Habcoek,  John  Jenekes,  «  illiain 
Bradford  and  Joseph  Anthonv,  he,  and  they  are  hereby,  appointed  a  eominittee  to  ajiree 
with  the  post  masters  and  post  riders,  for  their  service  ;  and  tu  give  directions  t.ir  the  sottinj; 
off  and  returns  of  the  post  riders;  and  that  the  post  masters  aeeount  to  the  said  eoimnittee 
for  what  thev  shall  receive.  ,,,     ,  -,      ,,.      i     .•       i    • 

It  is  further  voted  and  resolved,  that  all  letters  which  the  po.st  rider  for  the  time  bein}:, 
miv  receive  directed  for  the  town  of  Hostoii  shall  be  first  post  paid  and  submittea  to  the 
examination  of  the  Commander  in  Chief  of  the  American  forces  at  Caml  "A^v  or  ot  a  com- 
mittee that  mav  be  appointed  by  the  Vrovineial  Cnniircss  of  the  Massachusetts  l!ay,  betiu-e 
they  arc  permitted  to  go  to  Hoston  and  that  all  letters  coming  out  of  Boston  be  submitted 
to  the  like  examination.  .  ..,  .i  •     i 

And  it  is  further  voted  and  resolved  that  this  act  shall  continue  in  force  until  this  Assem- 
bly shall  make  some  fniiher  order  relative  to  the  same.* 

Ptisl  U!ilhiu  ill  I"";'). 
The  followinj;  notices  are  from  the  "  New  Kii-rhind  Chronicle  and  Kssex  Gazette"  for 
May  '.!o,  IVTi'i;  "Silent  Wilde  News  Carrier  to  Northampton,  Deerfield  &e.,  iiotilies  his 
customers  tliat  the  first  six  months  of  his  present  year's  service  ends  with  the  Kigblh  Day 
of  May  instant,  lie  desires  them  to  remember  that  on  the  account  there  will  be  due  to  him 
from  each  One  Dollar  and  One  (jiiarter  or  Seven  Shilliii;;s  and  Six  I'enee,  and  he  very 
earnestlv  prays  that  everv  one  would  reinembcr  the  day  and  be  punetual,  that  ,so  he  may  be 
able  to  continue  the  sami".  Said  Wilde  also  takes  the"  prc'sent  opportunity  to  entreat  those 
who  are  in  arrears  for  last  year  kindly   to  consider  that  it   would  be  a  great  favour  if   each 

*  R.  1.  Colcinijl  Ri-cirds,  vol.  VU.  rr    5;li  5^- 


\i 


•I 


XXlll. 

in.lividiiul  wiMil.l  iii.y  liiiii  iimiieiliuttly  tlicir  rosiipclive  balances,  for  hereby  lie  would  be 
tiiriii»li.'il  Willi  (<l.'ill,  a  icmsidenible  part  of  wliitli  is  dii«  io  the  iirinlors,  '/bo  biivo  cause  ot 
uiicasi'iiicss  that  tlicy  bavc  not  before  ow  received  what  is  8(  verally  duo  to  tlier...  t>aid 
Wilde  now  determines  to  ride  throii;^b  Jtoston,  Lancaster,  &e.,  as  usual,  beginning  next 
week."  , 

"Nathan  JJu^hllell,  Jr.  (Constitutional  I'osI)  jnoiioses  lO  carry  letters,  &e.,  to  the  cMup 
at  lio.\biirv  and  (  ambri<lge,  and  as  often  as  luacllcable  to  Boston,  leaving  the  printing  office 
ir  New  London  at  7  o'clock,  Tbnrsdav  evening,  Norwich  at  !l  o'clock  Friday  mornings;  and 
to  leave  the  camps  at  !l  o'clock  Monday  mornings,  return  the  same  road,  and  arrive  ut  Now 
Lonibiii  on  Wednesday  evenings.*" 


This  closes  my  ccdlecti.in  of  citations  having  reference  to  the  history  of  the  Colonial 
Post  Office.  The  same  year  (irTri),  the  Congress  of  the  Confederation,  having  assumed 
the  practical  direction  of  aftairs,  appointed  a  committee  to  devise  a  sy.stcm  of  Post  Office 
Communication,  which  committee  made  a  report  on  the  'iCtb  of  July,  recommending  a 
|ilan,  which,  on  the  same  day  was  adopted,  and  Dr.  I'rankliu  unanimously  appointed  Post- 
niasler  licneral,  at  a  salary  of  8I.t>l)0  per  annum. 

A  few  words  in  relation  to  Ilcfiii  Kixi.Av.  It  will  be  remembered  that  in  1768,  tho 
cffiirt  was  made  to  displace  Kranklin  from  the  Colonial  Postmaster  Cencralship  ;  in  Decem- 
ber, 177-J.  Franklin  procured  and  sent  to  Ma-sacbusctts  the  Ilutchins.m  Correspondence, 
which  action  on  his  part  was  the  cause  of  his  ultimate  removal.  In  the  same  month,  De- 
cember, 177-J,  111  .Ml  I'lXi.AV  was  appointed  Surveyor  of  Post  Offices  and  Post  Uoads  on  the 
Conlinent  of  N.irth  America,  but  did  not  sail  from  Kngland  until  the  following  March. 

On  the  :!lsl  of  January,  177L  Franklin  was  dismissed  from  bis  office,  uud  on  the  a.'itb 
of  F.diiuaiy  succeeding,  bis  place  was  tilled  as  f.iUows  : 

"February  "iritli,  1771,  [appoiiilniciils|. 

Ili<;ii  FiM..vv,  Ks.|..  Deputy  Postmaster  (ieneral  in  North  America,  in  the  room  uf  Dr. 

Franklin  removed."* 

In  a  letter  written  in  London.  ".1  February  177'J"  to  Mr.  John  Foxcroft,  lle.s.dent 
I),.,.uty  Postmaster  licncal  in  .Viiicrica,  Dr.  Franklin  refers  to  the  fact  of  his  having  "be- 
come  a  little  obiioximM  Io  ihc  Minisliy  "t 


H,.t.  Mag.  vol.  IV   p    17- 
+  Ann.ial  llinittrr,  vol.  XVII.,  l7-'4,  p    «♦■ 
♦  S|urk>'    Krankliii,  >ol.  VIII  ,  f.  2. 


XXIV. 

This  Foxoroft,  wl.o.n  Frnnkhx  .ul.lres...s  as  "  P-nr  Friond,"  is  oonstnntlv  ,<-f..rro.l  to  In 
■•FiM.Av's  Jo.KNAt,,"  "s  in  authority  over  him,  a.ul  th..  one  fn.n-  whom  In-  r,....v...!  h.s 
airoctions.  Ho  is  m.o.Mon,'.!  in  ■■  So/.iu.:,  A.,rri.v>,  h„^,lisl^r*  ns  follows:  '•  Fox.  ,...Kr, 
John  One  oC  the  two  ,.os.»nasters  p.n..r..l  of  tho  rroun  in  Ih-  tlnrt.-n  .olonu-s  :  an.l  was 
noniinally  in  offi,.,-  i.  tho  v.'.r  17«.  a.ul  rrolahly  un-il   tho  ..lose  of  th.  .onf.st.     Al.-r 

Uallowav  rotiru.l  to  Kn^'laii.l  h.-  h,M>aui. orr.>s|ion  lonl.' 

l.-,N,.AV  is  al«.  ■,i,.ntion,.,l  in  ih,.  san,..  work.  (S„l.,n..)\  ■'  F.Ni.r.KV,  llnin.  llo  au.l 
John  Fo.^,-roft  wor,.  tho  two  l'os.n,ast,.rs.i..n,.r.,l  ..f  ih.  thirt,.,-n  .■..lo..i.,.s,  an.l  wor.-  .■.,»• 
tinueJ  at  (h..  hoa.l  ..f  .hat  .h.,,artn„.nl  nntll  ITS-J,  .-n-alnly.  an.l  prohaMy  until  th.'  p.^a.-.  ' 
I,  w.,.,hl  hav..  s....n,...l  ..at.iral  an.l  l.r.,|..r  in  s.n.lln^  Mr.  F,M..»v  ..n  s..  ,n.,-rtant  >i 
mission  as  th.'  surv.-v  ..f  th.'  wh..lo  postal  .  omuu.ni..ati..n  ..f  th.>  Coh.nios,  that  .son..  ...nf-'r- 
enco  shuuia  have  heen  hol.l  with  l»r.  Franklin  .m  tlw  s,.h.i...t.  llol.linK'  -h..  h.^Mu'st  ..ffive 
in  the  ,l..l.artment,  an.l  th.,r,H.L.hly  a...|..ainte,l  with  the  wh..le  suhje.t,  and  pres.nt  .» 
EnLdan.l,  I  .au  vet  fiu.l  n..  r..r..ren...  t..  his  having'  any  kn..wl,.,l!:..  ..f  this  survey  whatsoever. 
"  Neither  .h.'es  llr.ai  FiNi.vv  in  his  .'.lo.  knai.'  n.enlion  him  hy  name  anywhere,  or  so 
much  as  allude  l.i  any  ..iher  aulh.irii.,  than  .Mr.  i.'o.x.r.ift. 

Tnahle  t..  ree.n.'eile  this  eon«i.-t  ..f  fa,  I  with  |,r.,hahilit\ ,  T  an.  f.ireed  to  the  e-.,M.lnsi.,n 
that  the  sending'  ..f  F.ni.av  to  .\n...ri.a  was  the  prelin.im.ry  step  in  the  determined  and 
afterwards  sn.....ssf,.l  .tlort  to  .l.priv..  Franklin  ..f  his  p..siti.m,  whieh  th.-  emissary  uflor- 
war.ls  r...ei\e.l  as  th.'  reward  tor  his  servi.'.s. 

Whether  Ih..  forwardinfj  ..f  the  llutehins.m  ('.ur.>p..ud..n..e  t..  Massa.hus.'tls  hy 
Frankli.i  was  known  to  the  Itritish  .Mlnistiy  in  l>.  .emh.r,  it  is  imp..ssil.l..  f..r  n.e  to  l.arn, 
hot  .-erlainly  ample  time  had  .'laps.d  pre.r  to  ih.  a.  lual  d.parlure  .,f  Fim.vv  in  Mar.h,  for 
that  fael  to  hav.'  ...une  t.i  ihiir  kieiwl.'.!).'... 

The  remarks  of  Fim.av  thr...ij;hoiit  his  •■.l...  unal,"  his  fr..i|Ueul  ref.'ren.'e  t.i  tho  ill- 
.■.•linj;  ..sistin^'  towards  (iieat  llrilaiii,  his  eriti.isiu  ..f  tho  i.puduet  of  p.isl-otliee  husiness, 
(if  the  ti.lelily  of  [  oslu.asl.rs  an.l  h.yally  ..f  rid.'rs,  ar.'  all  so  many  rofl..eli..ns  up..n  Frank- 
lin  ;  the  most  pn.mineut  hein^-  the  utl.r  ijrnorin>r  "f  his  name  and  relali.iu  U<  the  il..par|. 
ment,  Fim.aVs  .Lihinal  ends  ahrupily  ..n  th.  -Jllh  ..f  May,  1774.  in-lead  ..f  ..n  the  'Jlith 
of  .June,  as  its  title-page  states  ;   this  liein-  ih.-  last  pa^-e  ..f  ihe  I k  in  whi.h  il  is  wrill.u 


I 


i 


r 


v 


XXV. 

it  is  likely  that  being  copied  from  note-book.,  the  balance  for  some  reason  remained 
,.nc.,,,icd,  as  there  could  not  Inve  been  Hufficient  in  the  short  space  of  thirty-three  days  to 
have  eilcd  another  volume  ;  just  about  this  period  F.nlav  must  have  received  his  appoint- 

mcnt.  ... 

It  has  seemed  to  n»^  that  FiNt.AvN  Jouknal  n.ight  do  something  towards  elucmating 

the  secret  history  of  Franklin's  dismissal  from  office. 

The  apparent  connection  bctvvccn  the  circulation  of  the  Ilutch'nson  Correspondence  ; 
the  special  survey  of  the  Colonial  I'ost-Office  Department ;  the  deposition  of  Franklin,  and 
the  installation  in  his  ph,  e  of  the  man  appointed  to  nu.ke  the  examination,  appear  to  me 
to  mean  something  more  than  a  mere  coincidence. 

I  have  made  these  deductions  with  the  desire  that  some  one  betier  able  than  I,  should 
iuvcstigaie  the  subject,  and  if  there  be  any  truth  in  the  supposition  substantiate  it,  or  if  not, 
expose  its  incorrectness.  If  by  these  few  notes  and  selections  I  shall  have  added  anything 
to  the  interest  of  this  curious  Jonrnal,  I  shall  feel  sufficiently  gratified,  even  if  I  have  not 
increased  our  knowledge  of  American  history. 


Ana,  1867 


Fbank  U.  Noeton, 

Mmaiiili  Librarjf,  Smklyn. 


f: 


r 


r 


JOURNAL 


I 


I 


ht 


\tl 


^^^ 


/M 


JOURNAL. 


In  December  1771,  the  Right  Honorable  Francis  Baron  Le  Despencer, 
and  the  Right  Honorable  Henry  Fredrick  Thynne,  His  Majesty's  Post 
Master  General,  appointed  me  to  be,  Surveyor  of  Post  roads  on  the 
Continent  of  North  America;  in  the  month  of  March  following,  I  was 
commanded  to  embark  for  New  York,  to  be  instructed  in  my  duty  as 
Surveyor  by  the  resident  Deputy  Cieneral  there. 

I  arrived  at  New  York  in  April;  Mr  Foxcroft  was  then  in  Virginia: 
without  waiting  his  return  I  proceeded  to  Canada  in  consequence  of  leave 
obtained  in  Kngland,  and  arrived  at  (Quebec  on  the  last  of  the  month. 

During  my  stay  there  I  received  orders  from  Mr  Foxcroft  to  hold  my- 
self in  readinefs  to  enter  on  service  in  September  by  beginning  the  Survey 
in  exploring  the  uninhabited  country  between  the  most  Southerly  settle- 
ments on  the  River  Chaudiere  in  Canada,  and  the  most  Northerly  habita- 
tions on  the  River  of  Kennebek  in  the  (lovernment  of  Mafsachusets  Bay. 

These  two  Rivers  are  supposed  to  take  their  rise  on  the  height  of  land 
between  those  two  Provinces,  the  first  emptys  itself  into  the  River  St. 
Lawrence  six  miles  above  (Quebec  and  the  other  falls  into  the  Atlantic 
ocean  a  little  to  the  Eastward  of  Casco  Bay. 

I  had  formerly  representeil  to  Mr  Foxcroft,  that  the  Post  route  by 
l.ake  Champlain  was  tedious  and  subjeft  to  retardments;     in  summer 


il 


^  Journal  kept 

from  contrary  winds,  and  every  tall  and  spring,  when  it  begins  to  freeze, 
and  at  the  breaking  up  of  the  ice,  it  is  absolutely  impafsable ;  it  .s  never 
good  above  a  month  in  winter. 

That,  The  mercantile  body  had  often  made  complaint  of  the  inconvc- 
niencys  arising  from  the  unavoidable  detentions  of  the  New  York  mails. 

That,  It  had  been  pointed  out  that  shorter  routes  unobstrufted  by 
Lakes  or  large  Rivers,  might  be  opened;  the  way  by  the  Chaudiere  and 
Kennebek  Rivers  down  to  Falmouth  in  Casco  Bay  was  represented  as 

short  and  easy. 

These  representations  were  attended  to  by  Mr  Foxcroft,  and  in  conse- 
quence, he  sent  me  orders  to  exami«^the  proposed  route. 

1  communicated  the  order  received,  to  the  Lieut.  Governor,  Hector 
Theophilus  Cramahe  Esqr.  who  generously  promised  every  aid  and  all  the 
afsistancj  in  his  power,  to  carry  this  desir'd  projeft  into  execution  :  and 
as  money  was  necefspry  to  defray  the  expence  cf  the  intended  Survey,  he 
put  his  name  to  a  sub/cription  paper  presented  to  him,  and  contributed 
liberally  ;  his  good  example  was  follow'd  by  the  Gentlemen  of  the  Coun- 
cil, and  in  a  spirited  a^nner  by  the  Gentlemen  of  the  City— in  twenty 
four  heurs,  more  than  a  sufficiency  was  raised. 

Four  Indians  perfeftly  we'l  acquainted  with  all  the  different  pafses, 
were  deemed  a  numfia*,'!>'.'hcient  to  conduft  me  and  carry  the  necefsary 
provisions  :  four  of  the-  most  expert  were  accordingly  engaged,  with  an 
interpreter  of  the  Jienaqui  language  to  meet  me  on  the  ifth  Sep.  at  the 
last  Fettlement  on  the  banks  of  the  Chaudiere,  and  from  thence  to 
condua  me  by  the  shortest  way,  to  the  nearest  settlements  on  the  river  , 
Kennebek  in  New  Kngland. 

They  dedar'd  themselves  able  to  do  this,  as  these  countrys  were  per- 


BV  Hugh  Finlav.  3 

feftly  well  known  to  them,  having  been  bred  in  those  woods,  which  they 
had  yearly  traversed  from  their  infancy. 

They  proposed  to  mark  (as  they  shou'd  pafs  along,  in  their  rough  way) 
the  path  by  which  a  good  road  might  be  cut.— Now  from  their  sketches 
and  remarks,  and  my  own  observations,  the  nature  of  the  country  will  be 
known,  and  the  prafticability  of  opening  a  communication  to  our  Kenne- 
bek  neighbours  shown. 

On  the  13th  of  September  I  crofs'd  the  river  St.  Lawrence,  and  pro- 
ceeded to  the  last  farm  on  the  river  Chaudiere,  52  miles  S.  Easterly  of 
(Quebec,  and  there  met  my  Indians  according  to  appointment  the  15th; 
the  road  is  pafsable  in  carriages :  the  greatest  part  of  it  is  good,  and  the 
inhabitants  are  dayly  making  it  better. 

The  country  all  along  is  very  pleasant  excepting  about  twelve  miles 
from  the  river  Echemin  (etroit  cliemin)  to  the  Chaudiere,  the  country  is 
poor  and  marshy,  without  settlements.  The  river  here  is  a  hundred  yards 
wide,  a  smooth  clear  gentle  stream  with  a  pebly  bottom.  The  reaches  in 
this  river  are  long  between  rapid  and  rapid,  but  navigable  for  batteaus 
only;  when  the  snow  melts  on  the  mountains  in  Spring,  the  little  runs  in 
the  high  lands  are  swell'd  to  torrents,  which  are  empty'd  into  the  Chau- 
diere :  it  overflows  its  banks  from  this  supply,  and  the  present  road  is  at 
that  season  overflowed.  A  little  way  back  from  the  river  the  lands  rise 
into  fine  little  hills  profusely  clad  with  beautiful  trees.  This  part  of  the 
country  settles  fast. 

Capt.  Neilson  and  Lieut.  Harrison  being  desirous  to  accompany  me  on 
the  expedition,  hired  two  Indians  to  afsist  their  servant. 

On  the  15th  our  little  party,  eleven  in  number,  embarked  in  three  birch 
canoes,  with  twenty  days  allowance  of  pork,  flower  and  bisket,  depending 


.  JolRNAI.   KEPT 

on  our  fusils  and  fish  hooks  for  delicacys.  We  took  our  departure  from 
the  last  house  on  the  Chaudiere  and  proceeded  three  miles  to  the  Rapide 
du  Diahle,  a  strong  current  so  named  l>y  the  Canadians. 

The  Indians,  one  at  the  head  and  the  other  at  the  stern  of  these  crank 
skifs,  stood  upright  and  set  them  up  the  stream  with  poles.  Our  canoes 
drew  about  five  inches  water,  in  some  places  of  this  rapid  there  was  not 
more  than  eight;  in  spite  of  all  pofsihle  care  the  bottoms  of  our  canoes 
rub'd  against  large  stones  that  lay  here  and  there  under  water,  and  these 
tender  barks  are  render'd  leaky  by  the  slightest  touch  when  under  way : 
we  were  forced  to  go  on  shore  and  unload  them,  make  a  fire  to  dry  them, 
then  we  pitched  the  rub'd  parts ;  this  took  up  about  half  an  hour ;  the 
Indians  are  very  expert  in  their  own  matters.  We  launched  our  canoes 
again  into  the  water,  and  continued  setting  against  a  strong  current  7  mdes 
to  the  river  called  La  Famine;  at  the  mouth  of  this  river  we  found  two 
huts  inhabited  by  two  familys  eiiiploy'd  in  clearing  lands :  the  soil  is  rich 
here,  and  the  wheat  it  produces  is  plump  and  heavy  :  these  Canadians  re- 
gal'd  us  with  green  ears  of  Indian  corn  roasted,  and  bak'd  pompions  and 
milk  ;   we  pafsed  the  night  on  straw  spread  on  the  ground. 

The  turnintrs  and  windings  of  the  river  were  various,  trom  S.  h.  to  S. 
bv  W.      This  is  the  last  settlement  in  Canada  this  way. 


iftth. — Kmbarked  early,  setting  up  the  Chaudiere  four  miles  to  the  River 
des  l.oups,  course  S.  K.  by  S. :  the  river  takes  a  turn  here  to  the  S.  S.  \V. 
We  leave  it  to  the  right,  and  follow  the  River  des  Loups,  by  the  banks  of 
which  is  the  best  way  to  carry  a  road,  being  in  a  diredion  free  from  lakes, 
marshes  or  mountains  ;  all  these  obstruftions  are  to  be  met  with  in  carry- 
iny  a  road  by  the  Chaudier  . 


Bv  Hut'.H  Fin  LAV. 


By  the  Indian  sketch  of  the  country,  the  Chaudiere  route  appear'd  the 
shortest,  hut  much  intercepted  by  ponds,  swamps,  marshes  and  mountains, 
and  the  report  of  the  guides  confirm'd  it. 

It  is  inipofsibie  to  guefs  distances  from  an  Indian  draft;  that  people 
have  no  idea  of  proportion. 

The  River  des  Loups  is  about  40  yards  wide  at  its  mouth,  is  exceeding 
shallow,  rocky  and  rapid ;  indeed  at  this  season  we  found  it  so  low,  that 
our  canoes  cou'd  not  float  in  many  places,  and  here  our  fatigue  began.  We 
were  obliged  to  wade,  the  Indians  bearing  the  canoes  up  as  much  as  pofsible 
on  the  surface,  thus  carrying  them  slowly  along;  by  continuing  long  in  the 
water,  our  feet  became  so  beat  and  tender,  that  we  endur'd  much  pain  in 
treading  on  the  rocks  and  stones  in  the  river  ;  besides  they  were  so  slip- 
pery that  we  often  fell  down.  In  this  disagreeable  manner  we  proceeded 
six  miles,  and  at  5  o'clock  in  the  evening  encamped  at  the  foot  of  a  fall 
where  the  river  tumbles  over  a  bed  of  rocks  ten  foot  high.  The  banks  of 
the  river  are  pretty  steep,  the  courses  winding  in  short  reaches  from  S.  E. 
to  S.  by  W. 

We  unloaded  our  canoes,  lifted  them  out  of  the  water,  and  carried  them 
and  our  provisions,  &c.,  above  the  fall,  made  a  slow  fire,  and  set  the 
canoes  to  dry  at  a  distance  from  it ;  then  we  made  a  (f'(^wam  or  hut,  of 
branches,  open  in  front;  we  next  made  a  large  fire  at  a  convenient  distance; 
the  floor  of  our  Wigwam  we  laid  with  tender  sprigs  of  the  aromatick  Spruce 
tree,  which  comforts  the  lungs,  and  defends  the  breast  from  noxious  night 
\apours;  this  makes  a  soft  and  agreable  bed.  After  all  these  matters  were 
arranged,  we  hung  our  kettle  to  the  fire,  and  boil'd  pork  in  sufficient  quan- 
titv  for  supper,  and  to  last  us  all  next  day  untill  the  evening,  when  the 
same  work  is  again  done.     After  supper  each  man  wraps  himself  in  his 


i  I 


^  J()1'r;;ai.  kept 

blanket,  lavs  himself  down  on  his  spruce  bed  with  his  feet  to  the  fire,  and 
pafses  the  night  in  sound  and  refreshing  sleep.  Wc  rise  with  the  sun, 
pitch  our  canoes,  load  them,  and  leave  the  encampment.  We  found  trout, 
ducks  and  partridge  everywhere. 

Kvery  night  after  supper,  Mfntowermel,  our  chief  guide,  drew  a  sketch 
of  rhe  next  days  route  on  a  sheet  of  smooth  birch  bark  with  charcoal, 
marking  the  rivu'ets,  jionils,  lakes,  marshes,  ascents  and  descents,  ai  d 
dotted  the  pafs  most  proper  for  a  road.  These  sketches  I  took  off  on 
paper,  correcting  them  and  laying  down  the  distances  as  1  went  along,  to 
guide  me  in  protracting  the  great  sketch.  He  was  right  in  every  thing 
but  distances ;  when  any  difficulty  occur'd,  he  called  a  council  of  the  other 
five  and  they  redify'd  matters  among  them. 

I^tg^  All  the  distances  here  mentioned  are  computed. 

lyth. Proceeded  a  mile  to  another  fall  like  the  first.     We  carried  our 

canoes  about  thirty  vards ;  w^  waded  draging  and  supporting  them  this 
dav  as  yesterday,  anil  made  i  miu-.  on  our  way  ;  the  river  winds  often  in 
verv  short  turns,  deviating  in  vhcs',  small  windings  to  the  right  and  left 
from  S.  K.  t)ur  canoes  were  much  damaged  by  rubing  against  the  rocks; 
thev  leak'd  much  to  day.  The  banks  of  the  river  are  high,  and  the  lands 
look  well  ;   they  are  never  overflow'd. 

lijth. Showery  warm  weail.er,  still  wading  and  draging  our  canoes — the 

river  narrows  and  becomes  sliallower;  it  was  with  much  difficulty  that  we 
got  along  ;  they  took  in  a  great  deal  of  water ;  we  were  obliged  to  make 
frequent  halts  to  stop  our  leaks,  yet  in  spite  of  all  our  care  our  flower  got 
wet.     We  made  5  miles  this  ilay  ;   we  encamp'd  at  the  mouth  of  a  large 


J 

i 


4 


4 


BY  Hugh  Kin'lav.  7 

brook  which  here  emptys  itself  into  the  River  dcs  Loups  that  here  turns 
off  to  the  S.  W. — the  brook  comes  from  the  K.  a  little  southerly.  The 
turns  in  the  river  this  last  5  miles  were  very  short  froi.i  K.  to  S.  E.  We 
encamped  early  on  purpose  to  pack  up  our  provisions,  &c.,  in  proper 
packages  to  be  distributed  in  proportional  burthens  to  each  of  the  party 
as  we  were  next  day  to  proceed  thro'  the  woods. 

i^th. — Three  Indians  carried  each  man  a  canoe — three  were  loaded  with 
pork,  flower,  kettles  and  hatchets ;  the  rest  cf  the  party  carried  fusils, 
powder  and  shot,  paddles,  blankets  and  all  our  remaining  baggage;  thus 
we  set  forward  in  Indian  file  keeping  a  S.  by  K.  direftion,  we  immediately 
lose  the  brook,  it  is  on  our  left.  The  way  is  much  -bstrudted  by  fallen 
trees,  large  stones  and  there's  some  miry  places  in  it;  we  continued  on  a 
gentle  ascent  5  miles  and  crofs'd  the  brook  which  was  to  our  left,  we  now 
kept  it  to  the  right  at  a  distance  still  rising  gently,  except  in  two  or  three 
places  where  it  is  a  little  steep;  after  a  walk  of  three  miles  from  the  place 
where  we  crofs'd  the  brook,  we  descend  gently  half  a  mile  to  a  lake 
from  whence  the  brook  ifsues  ;  we  took  nine  hours  to  walk  9  miles.  The 
branches  of  the  trees  tore  and  bruised  our  canoes,  the  boughs  caught  our 
packs,  and  so  entangled  us  that  at  times  we  cou'd  not  disengage  ourselves 
for  minutes,  we  scrambled  over,  and  sometimes  crept  under  fallen  trees  ; 
tangled  shrubs  catch'd  our  feet  and  threw  us  down  under  our  burthens : 
we  had  a  most  fatiguing  march.  After  refreshing  ourselves  and  mending 
our  canoes,  we  embarked  on  still  transparent  water  cover'd  with  oullrushes, 
this  led  us  into  a  round  small  lake  which  narrows  and  brought  us  into 
another  round  bason  rather  larger,  the  course  over  both  S.  a  mile,  then 
pafsing  a  vjrv  narrow  strait,  it  suddenly  widens  into  apiece  of  water  three 


MiWi 


iiiimaaMii 


jj  Journal  kept 

„,i,.s  lo„«  and  two  .,ui  a  halt  bro.i,  with  a  tVw  snull  isla.uls  ,n  it.  The 
lands  a  little  wav  fron,  the  water  rise  gradually  to  a  great  h.ghth  all  around. 
«eepting  to  the  S.  K.  The  woods  arc  poor,  n.de  up  ot  hacl  p,ne  s,>ruce 
and  hirl  We  proceeded  the  whole  length  ot  the  lake  S.  In  S. 
„,,,,,,.  all  of  a  sudden  at  the  end.  and  >s  filled  w.th  rocky  httle  ,sland 
,•„,.  a  quarter  of  a  n.ile  ;  we  landed  at  the  left  hand  corner  o»  the  end  ot 
this  strait,  took  up  our  hurthens  as  before  and  march  <<  t  ro  the  wooes 
ascending  a  little  more  than  a  quarter  of  a  nule  and  walk  d  a  I  a  n„le 
farther  on  a  descent  to  a  lake,  the  course  S.  h. 

^.=>.Half  wav  over  this  carrying  place  is  the  just  he.ght  ot  la.v.l 
l„tween  Canada  and  New  Kngland,  consequenMy  the  boundary  hne  between 
tin.  Province  of  Quebec,  and  Mafsachusets  Bay  will  be  a  line  drawn  halt 
wav  between  the  lake  we  just  left,  and  th,.,  .ake ;  the  line  wou'd  run  n,  a 
N  ■  F  diredion,  the  waters  of  the  lake  behind  us  fall  at  last  .nto  the  River 
St  Lawrence,  and  the  waters  of  this  lake  join  the  river  ot  I'enobscot 
which  falls  into  the  Atlantic  Ocean. 

On  this  hiuhth  the  roads  sImuM  join.  We  are  here  .;«  nules  distant 
from  Ouebec',  and  4'-  fnun  the  last  house  on  the  river  Chaud.ere.  We 
encamped  on  the  ban':  of  this  lake  which  is  in  New  iM,gland. 

,oth,-Kn,barked  on  the  lake  and  steered  I'..  S.  l'..  half  a  n,ile  to  an 
island,  and  there  the  lake  rakes  a  turn  to  tne  S.  W.  ;  then  vse  ..pen  a  re 
„,arkable  hiuh  nu.untain  |,car,MU  S.-we  steer  S.  W.  :  miles  to  the  end  ot 
the  lake  where  it  contrafts  and  falls  ,.ver  a  bed  of  rocks  m  a  torrent  ot  :o 
vards  broad,  we  left  it  to  the  riuht.  and  walked  half  a  mile  S.  K.  bv  S.  to 
.,  little  lake  I  of  a  mile  over  which  we  crossM  S.  !•..  bv  S. ;  then  ^^e  took 
^,,,  our  canoes  and    pack^    and    «alk\l    S.  bv  i:.  about    <   miles  ..ver  bare 


11 

! 

K      4 


BY     HlICH     KiNLAV.  9 

roots  of  trees,  so  interlaced  and  twisted  that  they  resemble  the  skin  of  a 
corded  melon.  From  the  last  lake  there  ifsuer,  a  rivulet  which  we  keep  to 
the  right  for  three  miles,  then  we  crofs  it,  and  it  runs  to  the  left  of  us 
but  out  of  sight,  until  it  falls  into  the  river  Penobscot  where  we  join  it. 

Penobscot  where  we  enter  it  is  about  thirty  yds  broad,  and  it  encreases 
until  it  emptys  itself  at  the  mouth  of  the  Bay  of  P'undy. 

We  put  our  canoes  into  it,  paddling  with  the  stream;  it  serpentines 
very  much,  the  longest  reaches  run  S.  S.  E.  I  computed  that  we  made 
sixteen  miles  over  the  surface  of  the  water  tho'  not  more  than  8  in  our 
course.  This  river  is  full  of  salmon  and  trout,  its  banks  are  marked  all 
over  with  the  marks  of  the  hoofs  of  moose-deer  and  the  feet  of  other 
animals : — along  the  riverside  there's  fine  extensive  meadows  running  far 
into  the  land  ;  the  woods  appear  very  fine;  they  are  of  oak,  mapple,  ash, 
beech  and  birch — the  farther  we  advanced  the  water  became  deeper,  and 
the  current  almost  imperceptible.  We  encamped  in  a  fine  open  wood  of 
beech  and  black  birch ;   This  d.iy  was  showery  and  cold. 


2i8t. — Continued  our  way  down  the  Penobscot  winding  exceedingly 
about  4  miles,  on  the  whole  E.  b  S.,  here  it  takes  a  large  sweep  to  the 
right  running  rapidly  over  rocks  and  shoals;  to  avoid  it  we  took  to  the 
woods  and  walk'd  N.  N.  E.  a  mile  to  the  foot  of  the  shallows,  vhere  we 
got  into  our  canoes  and  paddled  East  i  of  a  mile,  and  to  save  another 
larje  sweep  of  shallows  to  the  left,  we  walkM  about  200  yds  S.  E.  and 
came  out  of  the  wood  at  a  place  where  a  river  e/ery  way  equal  to  the  Pen- 
obscot joins  it  from  the  N.  N.  E.  and  increases  in  breadth  and  depth  very 
much.  The  hinds  begin  to  look  exceeiling  rich  here;  the  country  is  very 
fine,   beautifully    variegateil   with  different  shatles  of  lively  green  ;      We 


^1 


10  JoiRNAi.     KEl'T 

proccciii-il  liown  the  river  winding  to  and  fro'  hut  making  good  a  S.  S.  K. 
cDursc  lb  miles  to  an  island  which  parts  the  river  in  two,  one  part  running 
N.  K.  the  other  E.  S.  K.,  we  tolhiwed  the  last  iiranch  keeping  the  islanii 
on  our  left  hand,  and  a  little  way  down  wc  put  on  shore  to  the  right  hand, 
and  walked  thro'  the  woods  about  lOO  yds  S.  h  I',  to  a  ileail  creek — we 
followed  its  winding  courses  in  our  canoes  about  halt  a  mile — it  lead  us 
into  a  round  dead  pond  cover'd  with  broad  leaves  of  a  water  plant.  We 
steered  over  it  S.  In  K.  a  ijuarter  ot"  a  mile,  its  diameter,  and  encamped  in 
the  woods  near  it. 


;2d. — We  march'd  thro'  the  woods,  a  mile  S.  to  another  dead  creek  half 
a  mile  in  length  leadinu;  us  also  S.  winding  to  a  large  lake  called  by  our 
Indians  Moose-paniii ;  we  entered  the  lake  at  the  eastern  extremity,  it 
appeared  about  two  miles  wide.  Opposite  to  the  mouth  ot'  the  creek 
there's  two  small  rocky  islands,  a  little  way  off.  Looking  ilown  the  lake 
Southw  •;war,  i  ha\'e  to  appearance  a  reach  of  six  or  eight  miles.  I'he 
country  :"  it:  i  .a  ward  is  mountainous. 

This  lake  takes  its  name  from  a  very  remarkable  mountain  on  the  S. 
side,  about  nine  miles  down,  the  Indians  say  it  resembles  a  moose-deer 
stooping.  We  found  a  high  surf  on  the  lake,  and  the  wind  strong  at  S. 
W.  We  kept  the  right  hand  shore  close  aboard  and  paddled  7S  miles 
ilireCtly  in  the  winds  eye.  We  cou'd  stand  it  no  longer,  our  canoes  being 
almost  tilled  with  the  spray,  our  flower  was  wetted,  so  we  put  ashore  and 
encamped. 

riic  wind  encreasetl  to  a  heavy  gale  with  great  rain — the  billows  on  the 
lake  ran  mountain  high.  The  lands  on  which  we  encamped  are  very  rich, 
the  trees   are  large   lofty   and  t)f  the  liest  timl>er  such  as  oak,  walnut. 


Pi 


BV    Hl'SH    ImNLAV.  II 

mapple,  bctch,  ash  and  black  birch,  the  lake  is  about  six  miles  or  may  be 
8  in  width  here,  and  begins  to  narrow  farther  down. 

2jd. — 'l"hewind  fell  before  daylight  and  the  lake  was  soon  smooth,  tho" 
there  remain'd  a  heaving  and  long  swell,  however  impatient  to  get  forward 
we  embarked  and  continued  along  the  right  hand  shore  a  mile,  then 
slaunted  over  to  a  point  on  the  opposite  shore  4  miles  southerly  ;  behind 
this  point  the  lake  widens  on  all  hands  and  shews  a  noble  body  of  water 
finely  rayed  by  long  low  points  of  land  running  off  from  the  shore  ;  many 
rich  islands  cover'd  with  tine  wood  add  much  to  the  beauty  of  the  pros- 
pedt.  We  turned  ipiick  round  the  point  and  paddled  S.S.K.  keeping  now 
on  the  left  hand  shore  to  a  charming  point  richly  clad  with  oak  without 
underwood  ;  from  this  point  we  steer'd  S.  by  E.  to  a  point  on  the  right 
hand  sitle  from  whence  we  had  a  noble  view  of  the  lake  which  now  widens 
very  much  and  is  filled  with  large  islands;  from  point  to  point  may  be  3 
miles.  From  this  last  we  steered  S.  S.  W.  2  miles  keeping  the  right  hand 
shore  and  came  to  the  head  of  the  River  Aranso  .k  or  Kennebek.  Its  first 
ifsue  from  this  lake,  is  in  a  smooth  clear  sh  .  of  about  a  hundred  yards 
wide  in  a  very  gentle  current — the  surface  is  like  a  mirror;  it  narrows  to 
about  40  yds  in  the  course  of  a  quarter  of  a  mile,  encreasing  in  velocity 
till  at  last  it  rushes  furiously  over  a  bed  of  rocks  for  9  miles  in  winding 
courses  from  S.  to  \V.  ami  back  to  S.,  the  westerly  reaches  being  the  longest. 
The  River  now  widens  into  a  circular  pond  half  a  mile  over  S.  W.  course, 
it  afterwards  contrarts  itself  for  ;o  ^  yds  and  runs  VV.  when  it  widens  again 
to  a  ipiartcr  of  a  mile  runing  S.  W.  b  W.  ;  mile,  it  then  takes  its  ordin-'y 
width  and  continues  a  little  way  with  a  gentle  current,  and  then  rushes 
suddenlv  over  a  bed  of  steep  rocks  for  a  mile  ami  continues  rapid  for  a 


MM 


12  Journal  kept 

mile  farther  S.  W.,  where  we  wereoblig'd  to  make  ;i  carrying  place  to  avoid 
a  large  sweep  in  the  river  in  very  dangerous  rapids.  We  carried  our 
canoes,  packs,  &c.  4  miles  in  the  woods  in  a  S.  W.  direction  ;  it  then  grew 
duskish  and  we  encamped. 


24th. — We  proceeded  with  our  faces  to  the  S.  W.  three  miles  farther  to 
the  bank  of  a  steep  precipice ;  with  difficulty  we  got  to  the  rivers  side  and 
embarked,  padling  with  the  stream  ten  miles,  sometimes  in  strong  and 
dangerous  rapids  veering  backward  and  forward  from  S.  to  W.;  here  a  river 
coming  from  the  Northward  joins  the  Kinnebek ;  it  rises  as  is  said  near 
the  sources  of  the  River  Chaudiere.  The  country  from  the  head  of  the 
river  is  poor,  wild  and  rocky,  cover'd  with  dwarf  pine,  spruce  and  unthriven 
birch.  We  continued  farther  ij  miles  in  varying  courses  from  the  S.  W. 
to  S.  to  a  place  well  known  to  the  'ndians  called  the  great  carrying  place. 
This  leads  to  the  river  I  have  mention'd.  The  Interpreter,  and  the  Indi- 
ans are  to  return  to  Canada  this  way  for  which  reason  we  went  on  shore 
and  left  pork  and  flower,  well  wrapt  up  ir  birch  bark,  and  hung  the 
bundles  on  the  branches  of  trees  to  preserve  them  from  wild  beasts.  This 
will  serve  them  on  rhcir  return. 

The  country  bcuins  to  wear  a  more  smiling  aspect,  and  continues  for  5 
miles  winding  as  before,  down  to  a  charming  island  where  the  country  is 
past  description,  enchanting.  The  Indians  much  frequent  this  tract,  on 
account  of  the  incredible  quantity  of  game  with  which  the  woods  are  stored, 
ami  the  river  here  swarms  with  salmon,  trout,  and  other  fish. 

Continuing  the  same  route  or  ilirection  fot  4  miles  farther  we  came  to  a 
fall  of  about  eight  feet  in  perpemlicular  highth  most  romantically  beautiful: 
the  river  is  confined  between  two  rocks,  and  rushes  over  in  a  surprising 


By  Hugh  Finlay. 


13 


manner  foaming  with  incredible  fury  :  it  falls  into  a  fine  rock-bound  bason 
perfectly  circular  and  full  of  fish,  we  encanip'd  on  the  side  of  this  bason 
with  the  fall  in  front,  and  we  caught  a  great  quantity  of  fine  fish  here  in  a 
few  minutes. 


:5th. — Last  night  it  froze  hard.  We  left  this  very  delightful  spot  and 
went  with  the  stream  S.  S.  I""..  5  miles  among  fine  islands  cover'd  with  oak, 
beech,  walnut,  mapple  and  elm,  and  continued  our  route  8  miles  tarther  in 
courses  all  round  the  compafs  (still  among  islands)  to  a  rapid  where  we 
were  ohiig'd  to  make  a  carrying  place  of  a  mile:  the  course  S.  thro' a 
grove  of  fine  tall  pines.  We  kept  the  river  on  our  left;  we  embarked  at 
the  foot  of  the  rapid,  and  continuing  a  mile  southerly  we  came  to  a  cleared 
point  of  land  on  tiie  left  hand  shore,  where  there  was  formerly  a  large 
village  of  the  Abena(]ui  Indians,  it  was  called  Aransoak,  now  Noridgewalk,  it 
was  deserted  about  the  year  1756,  not  a  vestige  of  it  now  remains. 
Opposite  to  this  point  the  Kennebek  receives  a  river  coming  from  the 
westward  ;  on  its  banks  we  saw  many  haystacks,  the  first  indication  of 
inhubitants  that  we  perceived,  but  we  cou'd  not  descry  any  hut  or  house. 
'I'urning  round  the  point  we  saw  a  smoak,  and  at  some  distance  we  came  to 
a  hut  where  we  found  two  men,  wlio  had  clear'd  some  acres  of  land  and  had 
sown  it  with  wheat  and  rye  ;  they  intend  to  build  a  house  here  next  year. 

I'Vom  this  place  to  the  nearest  inhabitants  is  10  miles.  We  continued 
our  route  and  arriv'd  at  a  number  of  fine  settlements.  We  went  to  Capt. 
Jonathan  Oaks's  plantation  ;  he  had  been  settled  here  but  a  year  yet  he  had 
put  joo  bushels  of  grain  into  his  barn  this  harvest.  He  served  in  the 
Provincials  last  war.  lie  inform'd  me  that  from  his  house  to  Seguine 
Island  at  the  mouth  of  Kennel>ck  is  78  miles  chained. 


■    i 


H 


Journal  kept 


The  country  is  quite  new,  tiierc's  no  roads  open'd,  there's  but  uhs 
thro'  the  woods  from  settlement  to  settienicnt. 

I  discharged  my  Indians  here,  and  instrurted  tlie  Interpreter  tt)  return 
In-  the  ureat  carrying  place  where  we  left  provisions. 

I  gave  him  written  instruAions  how  to  take  the  courses  and  direfted  him 
how  to  compute  the  distances,  and  to  note  the  remarks  of  the  Indians  with 
their  account  of  the  nature  of  the  country  as  they  went  along—and  I  recom- 
mended it  to  him,  to  keep  it  ever  in  his  mind  that  the  intention  of  this 
examination  was  to  learn  the  most  proper  pafs  for  a  road. 

NVe  parted  from  our  Indian  friends  and  proceeded  down  the  Kennel.ek 
in  wooden  canoes  without  meeting  with  anything  remarkable.  The  country 
settles  fast,  therefore  it  is  but  reasonable  to  imagine  that  high-wavs  will  in 
tmie  be  opened,  by  which  means  there  will  be  an  easv  communication 
..etween  Nondgewalk  and  Brunswick;  from  this  last  mentioned  place,  one 
may  ride  on  horseback  to  balmouth  in  Casco  Bav,  which  is  the  last  Post 
I  own  in  New  England  and  the  nearest  to  (Juebec. 

We  left  Kennebek  River  at  Merry-meeting  bav,  rowed  up  the  river  . 
Amorescogg,n  to  Brunswick,  and  from  thence  over  land  four  miles  to 
Casco  Bay,  embark'd  there  in  a  canoe,  and  nrriv'd  at  Falmouth  on  Thurs- 
day the  .50th  of  September,  having  been  five  davs  from  Capt.  t)aks's  to 
tb.s  place,  ,S  m.les  distant.  It  was  with  the  utmost  difficultv  that  we  could 
procure  canoes  to  carry  us  alonu. 


BY  Hugh  Finlay. 


IS 


It  appears  by  this  Journal  that  the  distance 

From  (Quebec  to  Launieres  the  last  house  on  the  River  1 

Chaudiere,  in  a  good  road  is J 

From  Launiere's  house,  to  carry  a  road  in  the  best  path," 

thro"   a  country  dry  and  level,    (as  appears  by  the 

proper  route  p'rotraded)  down  to  Noridgewalk  the 

first  and  nearest  settlement  in  New  England 
From  Noridgewalk  to  Oaks's  or  Wafsarunset  R.  lo 

From  Wafsarunset  to   Falmouth  in  Casco  Bay     9^ 


Miles 

52 

ISO 


In  all  from  (Quebec  to   Falmouth 


310 


The  lands  on  the  Kennebek  are  the  property  of  some  gentlemen  known 
by  the  name  of  the  Plymouth  Comp'y,  they  will  not  give  any  encourage- 
ment to  open  this  road. 

And  I  have  it  from  good  authority  that  the  Afsemblywill  not  grant  one 
ghilling  towards  opening  a  road  this  way,  into  Canada.  The  Publick  says, 
let  the  Plymouth  Company  improve  their  property  by  opening  high-ways, 
why  shou'd  the  people  contribute  to  make  their  estate  valuable  !  Besides 
an  opinion  prevails,  that  all  the  country  Fast  of  New  Hampshire  will  be 
cut  off  from  the  Mafsaehusets  Bay  and  made  a  Province  bounded  by 
Nova  Scotia. 

(iovernor  Hutcheson  promised  to  write  to  the  Minister  on  this  matter, 
and  that  he  would  recommend  the  plan  as  beneficial  to  commerce  in 
general,  and  in  particular  of  benefit  to  the  Provinces  of  Quebec  and 
Mafsaehusets. 


i6  Journal  kept 

Jt  The  Post  OJice  at  Falmouth  in  Casco-Bay,   zd  Oflober,    177J 


Mr  Child  the  deputy  there  represents,  that  no  allowance  has  been  made 
to  him  in  lieu  of  the  liberty  of  franking  which  was  taken  from  him,  and 
he  got  the  promise  of  an  equivalent, — he  says  that  he  advis'd  the  late 
Comptroller  that  he  valued  his  postage  at  40s.  Str  '^  ann. 

He  further  represents  that  the  employment  is  very  troublesome  to  him, 
and  of  no  manner  of  advantage,  nay  that  it  is  a  loss  to  him,  for  he  cannot 
withstand  the  earnest  solicitations  of  indigent  people  who  have  letters  by 
the  post,  he  delivers  them,  and  never  receives  payment. 

I'.very  person  who  looks  for  a  letter  or  a  news  paper  freely  enters  his 
house,  be  it  post  day  or  not;  he  cannot  afford  to  set  apart  a  room  in  his 
house  as  an  office;  he  is  continually  disturb'd  in  his  family,  he  theefor 
begs  that  some  other  person  may  be  appointed  in  his  stead,  unless  an  office 
is  allowed  him. 

As  naval  officer,  he  gives  dayly  attendance  at  the  Custom  house,  under 
that  roof  there  is  a  small  room  to  lett,  which  wou'd  be  a  commodious  office 
for  him  and  convenient  for  the  I'ublick. 

The  people  of  Falmouth  know  Mr  Child,  they  wish  he  may  continue 
to  be  Post  Master,  as  he  is  a  careful  man,  and  they  are  sensible  of  the 
ailvantage  of  a  regular  communication  with  the  other  parts  on  the  conti- 


nent. 


From  his  general  chararti.-r  anti  what  I  saw  of  him,  I  think  he  will 
endeavor  to  encrease  the  Revenue  by  every  means  in  his  power  as  long  as 
he  takes  charge  of  the  office.  I-roni  the  great  numbers  of  people  settling 
to  the  Fastwanl  of  {''almouth,  1  imagine  that  correspondence  must  encrease 
much  in  these  parts. 


BY  Hugh  Finlay. 


17 


There's  two  or  three  vefsels  in  constant  employment  between  Boston 
and  Falmouth  ;  they  ar-;  called  Packets,  each  of  them  makes  about  twenty 
trips  yearly,  and  every  trip  they  carry  many  hundreds  of  letters.  Mr 
Child  once  attempted  to  put  the  Law  in  force  and  took  the  letter-bag  of 
one  of  those  vefsels  to  the  office,  but  it  made  such  a  bustle  and  noise  in 
town  that  he  dared  never  attempt  it  again. 

The  Masters  of  these  vefsels  say,  that  each  letter  accompanys  a  package 
on  freight,  and  that  they  will  not  deliver  them  to  the  Post  Master  f.  r  that 
reason :  it  is  well  known  that  not  one  letter  in  ten  accompanys  goods,  yet 
the  law  is  so  defedive  that  the  aft  can  never  be  put  in  force. 

The  Post  from  Boston  arrives  here  every  Saturday  about  four  o'clock 
in  good  weather,  he  remains  in  Falmouth  until  Wednesday  morning,  and 
proceeds  to  Portsmouth  62  miles  which  he  performs  in  36  hours. 

The  rider  has  £35  Str.  H  ann.  a|id  is  paid  by  the  o(6ce  at  Portsmouth, 
he  is  sober,  honest  and  diligent. 

The  road  from  Falmouth  to  Portsmouth  is  good  in  summer,  in  winter 
indifferent,  there's  some  bad  bridges. 

.//  Portsmouth  iu  New  Hamfshin,  f/A  Oilakr,  Ekazer  Ru/sel/,  Dep. 


His  office  is  small  and  looks  mean,  his  books  are  in  good  form  and  up 
to  this  day  ;  he  is  a  careful  regular  officer,  he  understands  his  businefs  and 
seems  to  have  the  interest  of  the  office  at  heart. 

The  Post  from  the  Westward,  that  is  the  mails  from  Virginia,  Mary- 
land, Pensylvania,  Jersey,  New  York  and  Boston  arrive  at  his  office  at  11 
o'clock  in  good  weather— in  winter  after  a  fall  of  snow,  or  heavy  rain,  he 
seldom  arrives  before  ten  o'clock  at  night,  when  the  wind  blows  hard  from 


sam 


i8  Journal  kept 

certain  points,  he  is  detained  at  the  ferry  at  Newbury  Port,  for  there's  no 
pafsing  there  in  a  high  wind. 

One  Stavers  some  years  ago  began  to  drive  a  stage  coach  between  Ports- 
mouth and  Boston :  his  drivers  hurt  the  office  very  much  by  carrying 
letters,  and  they  were  so  artful  that  the  post  master  cou'd  not  deteft  them ; 
it  was  therefore  judged  proper  to  take  this  man  into  the  pay  of  the  office, 
and  to  give  two  mails  weekly  between  Boston  and  Portsmouth.  This 
was  of  no  disadvantage  to  the  Post  office  because  the  mails  brought  by  the 
stage  coach  did  rather  more  than  pay  .€10  Str.  Stavers's  yearly  salary. 

At  this  day  there's  many  stages  between  this  place  and  Boston,  and  they 
hurt  the  office  much. 

Mr  Rufsel  says  that  the  drivers  cannot  be  deteded,  they  have  small 
sham  bundles  with  each  letter  or  they  are  given  to  the  Passengers  in  the 
coach,  who  will  without  hesitation  say  that  they  are  letters  of  recommenda- 
tion which  they  carry. 

Mr  Rufsel  advises  to  keep  Stavers  in  pay  because  the  people  have  been 
so  long  accustomed  to  have  two  mails  weekly,  the  publick  wou'd  raise  a 
clamour  were  one  taken  away,  and  as  Stavers's  salary  is  paid  from  the 
amount  of  the  letters  he  brings  to  the  office,  it  is  best  to  let  things  remain 
as  they  are  for  the  present. 

The  coach  mail  (Stavers's)  shou'd  arrive  on  Saturdays  at  midday,  but  it 
is  very  irregular,  depending  entirely  on  the  state  of  the  roads,  so  that  Mr 
Rufsel  is  oblig'd  to  attend  at  his  office  for  this  mail  from  midday  until 
midnight  to  receive  and  deliver  the  letters,  for  it  is  a  rule  with  him  to  do 
no  busincfs  on  Sunday  —  yet  hitherto  he  has  carried  home  all  Publick 
letters  that  were  not  sent  for  in  time  and  he  has  delivered  them  even  on 
Sundav  at  his  own  house. 


BY  Hugh  Finlay. 


19 


By  the  books  it  appears  that  the  stage  mails  amount  from  6  to  30  dwt. 

Thus  Mr  Rufsei's  time  as  Post  Master  is  taken  up. 

On  Monday  evening  the  mails  for  the  Westward  are  made  up,  the  stage 
leaves  Stavers's  at  sunrise  next  morning.  On  Wednesday  the  Post  arrives 
from  the  Westward— in  winter  much  attendance  is  required  on  these  days. 
On  Thursday  at  Noon  the  Falmouth  Post  arrives;  there's  frequently  no 
letters  in  summer.  The  benefit  arising  from  this  Post  is  but  small,  for 
correspondence  is  entirely  carried  on  by  the  coasting  vefsels  m  summer. 
When  they  are  laid  up  in  winter  for  two  or  three  months  there's  tollerable 
mails  between  Boston  and  Falmouth.  On  Friday  the  Ma.ls  for  the 
Westward  and  Eastward  are  made  up.  For  Newbury,  Salem,  Boston, 
&c   at  1 1  o'clock  and  for  Falmouth  at  10  o'clock. 

On  Saturday  as  has  been  mention'd  the  stage  mail  arrives  and  long 
attendance  is  requisite  in  Winter. 

Mr  Rufsel  prays  that  he  may  have  a  quarterly  allowance  in  lieu  of  the 
liberty  he  formerly  enjoyed  viz.  to  frank  his  own  letters,  sent  or  received, 
and  that  allowance  may  be  made  to  him  from  the  time  that  Mr  Parkers 
circular  letter  depriv'd  him  of  that  perquisite.  He  declares  on  h.s  word 
that  it  was  a  saving  to  him  of  £6  to  M  lawful  money  yearly. 

He  also  for  his  own  sake  prays,  that  it  may  be  had  in  remembrance, 
that  he  is  oblig'd  to  deliver  the  Governors  letters  without  receiving  the  post- 
.ge-in  the  common  run  of  the  Provincial  publick  businefs  he  cannot 
receive  the  amount  of  his  account  under  .2  months,  because  .t  must  pafs 
in  Afsembly.  He  fears  that  his  slownefs  in  remitting  the  balance  of  h.s 
account  may  appear  in  his  disfavour. 


w 


20-  Journal  kept 

6th  of  Oftr.— I  left  Portsmouth  to  wait  on  Govr.  Wentworth  at  his  seat 
at  Wolfsborough  48  miles  North  of  Portsmouth  ;  I  carried  a  letter  of 
introduction  to  him  from  Mr  Koxcroft  who  is  very  desirous  to  have  n 
road  opened  thro'  any  of  the  neighbouring  Provinces  into  Canada  to  avoid 
lakes  and  water  carriage,  which  so  often  detains  the  couriers  with  the  mails 
to  and  from  that  country,  to  the  great  prejudice  of  the  trade  in  that  flour- 
ishing Province;  and  as  Governor  Wentworth  from  a  superior  publick. 
spirit  has  exerted  himself  beyond  belief  in  settling  the  Provin"-:  under  his 
care,  even  back  to  the  boundary  between  New  Hampshire  and  Canada. 
It  is  imagined  nay  it  is  certain,  that  thro'  New  Hampshire  will  be  the  best 
and  easvest  way  to  Canada  especially  considering  that  the  roads  are  opened 
and  the  country  settled  almost  up  to  the  line  of  45°.  It  only  remains 
with  Canada  to  meet  New  Hampshire,  and  I  compute  that  there  will  not 
be  much  above  a  hundred  miles  to  open. 

I  found  the  Governor  just  as  he  had  been  represented,  ever  willing  and 
always  ready  to  second  any  proposal  that  has  the  least  tendency  to  be  of 
service  to  the  Publick  or  of  benefit  to  his  Province ;  he  afsured  me  that 
he  would  have  roads  open'd  immediately  to  the  very  line,  and  that  in  due 
time,  he  would  have  convenient  stages  at  ten  to  fifteen  miles  distantt,  wliere 
a  change       'lorses  might  be  procured  at  a  short  warning. 

His  'ncv  recommended  a  Surveyor  to  me  whom  1  immciliately 

dispatcn  c.  lo  Canada,  to  take  the  courses,  measure  the  distance  by  compu- 
tation and  make  remarks  on  a  route  prescrib'd  to  him,  vi/..  Krom  a  gap  in 
the  White  hills,  down  to  the  Indian  village  of  St.  Francis  on  a  river  jf  tht 
same  name  which  emptys  itself  into  the  River  St.  Lawrence  7  or  8  leagues 
above  three  rivers  on  the  opposite  side. 


Bv  Hugh  Finlay. 


31 


1  saw  the  surveyor  set  out,  and  then  took  my  leave  of  the  Governor, 
and  return'd  to  Portsmouth  the  8th  of  Odober  at  night. 

(jth.  Settled  Mr  Rufsels  accounts  of  many  years  standing  and  receive'd 
the  balance  of  his  account  cur't.  with  the  General  Post  Office  and  mem.  in 
my  book  of  settlements  with  Dcputys,  Note:  That  Mr  Rufsel  takes  no 
advantage  of  the  course  of  exchange  in  his  remittances  at  different  times. 
Mr  Parker  the  late  Comptroller  gave  him  credit  in  the  Comptrollers  books 
at  par,  but  he  bought  bills  under  par  which  makes  a  considerable  difference 
to  the  office,  and  which  as  he  observed  he  might  have  pocketed,  but  in  jus- 
tic:  he  accounts  for  it. 

Mr  Rufsel  never  had  a  commifsion  ;   no  copy  of  instrudions,  he  begs  to 
^  have  both  with  an  exemption  from  publick  service. 

In  consequence  of  hints  dropt  by  several  people  concerning  the  carelefs- 
nefs  of  the  driver  of  Staver's  coach  with  regard  to  letters  put  into  his 
hands,  I  inform'd  Stavers  of  these  complaints.  His  son  drives  the  coach, 
he  was  called  in  before  me,  and  1  gave  him  a  severe  reprimand  laying 
before  him  the  consequences  of  his  want  of  care,  and  shewing  him  that  if 
ever  he  did  attempt  to  defraud  the  office  by  receiving  money  for  carrying 
letters,  and  afterwards  concealing  it  without  accounting  to  the  Post  Office 
he  wou'd  be  severely  punished. 

This  stage  driver,  as  he  is  in  the  service  of  the  office  shou'd  give  bonds, 
shou'd  take  a  rider's  oath  and  he  shou'd  be  furnished  with  extrarts  from 
the  Aft  of  Parliam't  relative  to  Riders,  ami  if  extrafts  were  put  up  in 
publick  places  of  Inns  on  the  roads  where  stage  coaches  and  carriers  pafs, 
shewing  them  the  risk  they  run  by  illegal  carriage  o*"  letters,  and  have  the 
same  inserted  and  continued  for  some  months  in  all  the  publick  papers, 
it  might  have  a  very  good  effeft. 


-  JoiRNAI.    KEPT 

L.L.''t  Portsmouth  after  liiniur,  ami  arrivctl  at 

AV«' /('//;;>■  {11  milfs\,   liiilkelcy  Emerson,   Ihfx. 


On  Suiula)    Kith  liid  no  Imsiiu'ss. 

Monilay  i  ith. —  l'.xamiin.;i  the  hooks,  they  wen-  in  form  ami  up  to  this 
liay  :  he  has  no  ortici-,  Inir  rcccivis  and  delivers  letters  in  his  shop,  ht  is  a 
hooksciicr.  1  Ic  seems  to  he  a  stayed,  sober  man.  Received  the  balance 
ot    the  ipiarter  endint;  the  5th. 

1  he  Post  from  Boston  arrives  on   Tuesdays  at  '.  o'clock  in  fheevenintr. 

I'rom  Portsmouth  on  the  same  day  at  one  V.  M. 

h'rom  Boston  on  l-'riday  6  o'clock  P.  M.  in  summer. 

i'rom  i'ortsmouth  on  I'Viday  befmn  4  and  5  P.  M. 

I  he  mad  for  Boston  is  made  up  on    i'utsdav,  one  o'clock. 

■■or  the  I'.astward  at  the  samf  time. 

I'or  Boston  on  l-'riday  4  o'clock  P.  M. 

i'or  the  Kastward  at  the  same  time,  hut  there's  seldom  any  letters  either 
tor  Kast  or  West.       i'lie  stages  and  private  conveyances  take  all. 

Left  a  copy  of  Mr  l'oxcr,.tts  directions  to  me  da'ed  16th  Sept.  to  settle 
and  receive  halanc-s  tVoni  the  Deputy  I'ost  masters. 

.\1-  l-.merson  thinks  that  the  want  of  Post-horn,  is  a  loss  to  the  oflice, 
tor  In  warnint;  given  l.v  the  horn  many  letters  wou'd  go  l,v  I'ost  whicli 
are  now  sent  In  other  oportunitv's-the  I'ost  shou'd  l.h.w  before  the  hour 
of  shutting,  and  in  passing  on  hu  «,,v  manv  letters  wou'd  be  deliver',!  to 
him. 

Il^'  asks,  whether,  ,f  the  dn^e:•s  of  stages  were  to  he  paui  apennv  tor 
tverv  letter  tnev  bring  to  the  office  he  m.ght  charge  two  pence  (or  allsuch 


BY  Hugh  Fini.av. 


23 


lis 

a 

I"  I' 


letters  deliverable  in  town.  The  Rider  who  brings  the  mails  to  this  office 
is  pundlual.  The  office  here  neither  encreases  nor  diminishes,  the  rece't  is 
from  t!9  to  Cio  lawful,  quarterly. 


Left  Newbury  and  proceeded  12  miles  to 

Ipswitch,   James  Foster,   Depy. 


Cone  to  the  country  ;  he  keeps  a  small  shop.  Left  direftions  for  him 
in  writing  to  send  his  accots.  with  the  (Jeneral  Post  office  by  next  I'ost., 
dire(!tcd  for  me  at  the  Post  office  in  Boston,  and  also  to  send  the  balance 
of  his  account,  and  to  inform  me  of  the  days  and  hours  of  the  arrival  of 
mails  at  his  office,  and  the  times  of  the  Post's  departure  from  his  office, 
with  any  proposals  he  may  have  to  make  for  the  good  of  the  office— with 
his  rcpoi  t  of  the  riders  employed. 


Proceeded  1  2  miles  to 

Salem,    Edward  Norice,    Depy. 


Oftobcr  I  ith.— His  books  were  not  in  good  order,  he  follows  the  form, 
hut  thcv  are  dirty  and  not  brought  up  regularly ;  he  understands  the 
busincfs  of  a  deputy.  The  office  is  kept  in  a  snail  mean  looking  place. 
I  le  teaches  writing.  He  has  no  commifsion  to  act,  he  took  charge  of  the 
office  at  the  d'.-ath  of  his  father ;  he  reports  that  tvery  other  day  the  stage 
coach  goes  for  Boston,  the  drivers  take  many  letrers,  so  that  but  few  are 
t'orwarded  bv  I'ost  to  or  rr..m  his  office.  If  an  information  were  lodged 
,but  an  informer  vvou'd  get  tarM  and  feather'dl  no  jury  wou'd  find  the  tact; 
it  is  dcctn'd  ncevfsarv  to  hinder  all  ..els  of  Parliament  fmm  taking effert  in 


mmmm 


24 


Joi  R\AL    KEI'T 


America.      I'liey  arc-  they  say  to  l,c  governed  In  laws  oftlieir  own  t'raming 
aiul  no  other. 

While  Mr  Norrice  was  making  up  his  accounts  I  went  down  the  i  :th, 
four  miles,  to 

Marblehead,  U'oodivard  .Urahams,  l),pui\. 


Hew.isfrom  home:    his  wife  informs  me  that  he  accounts  to  Mr  Hub- 
hard,  I'ost  Master  in  Boston,  an.l   the  qu.arfer  endini;   the    5th    |uly    was 
settled  and  transmitted.      Wrote  a  letter  to  Mr  .Abrahams,  as  follows  : 
^^  "My  t.usinefs  with  you  was  to  look  into  your  office  books,  to  receive 
"the  quarters  account  ending  the  5th  ..f  this  month,  and  the  balance  due 
"  by  you   to  the  (Jeneral  Office,  and  t..  enc,uire  if  vou  have  anything  to 
"  propose  for  the  good  of  the  service,   or   anvthini;   to  represent   needing 
"amendment,    but  as    I    have  mifsM  of  you,    I    pravvou  to  transmit  the 
"accounts  and  balance  to   me  at  Mr   Hubbard's   ,n    Boston    bv  the   rirst 
"  Post:   and  be  so  good  as  to  inform  me  of  any  matter  which  vou  think  a 
"  Surveyor  shouM  be  m.ule  acquainted  with,  whose  husinefs   is  to   further 
"the  interest  of  the  (ieneral  I'ost  Office,  and  facilitate  correspondence  by 
"every   pofsible   means.      I  shou'd  be  glad  to  know  particularlv  how  the 
"  mails  are  forwarded,  since  John  Noble  cannot  ride  thro'   this  '  place.      1 
"shall  leave  Salem   for   Boston  ,0  morrow  mornint-.  where  I  shall  remain 
"  s mie  days." 

In  passing  thro'  the  street  in  mv  wav  back  to  .Salem.  I  met  Mr  Abra- 
bams  on  his  return  from  the  country  :  a  few  minutes  before  mv  letter  w-.s 
P"t  ."to  his  han.ls.  he  promised  ,„  u.mpiv  w„h  mv  demands.  He  appear, 
t..  be  an  intelligent  man;  he  has  an  emplovment  in  the  Customs  and 
keeps  the  I'ost  Office  where  he  does  Custom  House  businefs 


Hi'GH  Imnlav. 


25 


Noble,  the  rider,  cannot  go  down  to  Marblehead  at  present.  The  small- 
pox is  in  Salem,  and  was  he  to  go  down  with  the  mail  he  wou'd  be  oblig'd 
to  undergo  the  ceremony  of  smoaking,  that  is,  to  be  fumigated  with  brim- 
stone; as  he  is  of  a  weakly  constitution  he  cannot  submit  to  it,  therefore 
he  leaves  the  Marblehead  bag  to  take  its  chance  of  a  conveyance;  opportu- 
nitys  happen  once  or  twice  a  day,  yet  it  sometimes  lies  for  days  at  Salem 
—the  people  in  Marblehead  complain  of  this.  It  is  Noble's  duty  to  send 
it  down  by  a  person  sent  on  purpose,  this  rider  is  careful,  sober  and 
punrtual ;   he  rides  all  the  way  to  Portsmouth. 

On  my  return  to  Salem  I  settled  with  Mr  Norice,  who  would  not  swear 
to  his  accounts  as  he  has  no  commifsion. 

The  Post  from  Boston  arrives  at  Salem  on  Tuesday  12  o'clock,  and  he 
is  dispatch'd  for  the  Eastward  at  I ;  coming  from  Boston  the  rider  goes 
first  to  Marblehead. 

He  returns  from  the  Eastward  every  Saturday  morning  at  10  o'clock, 
and  takes  Marblehead  on  his  way  to  Boston. 


Left  Salem  and  proceeded  ii  miles  to 

Boston,  (u-here  I  nrrncd  the  \i,th\,  ■T'uthill  lliihlnn;!.  Post  Master. 


During  the  stay  that   1  made  in  Boston,  1  \s  -oduc'd  to  some  of  thi 

principal  people  in  town.     1  got  information  n  nig  the  office.    1  learnt 

their   complaints   -.md    heard    their    proposal  ilniatm.;    ill   ciiu^ie  of 

disciiiitent. 

I'loni  time  to  tiini  1  consulted  with  Mr  Hubbard  at"  it  the  most  likely 
means  to  put  everything  on  the  best  footing.  Wait  '  I  Us  ExtelUno 
(Jovirnor   Hutcheson  to  learn  if  the  Province  undet    ns  eoinniand  would 


26  Joi'RNAL    KEI'T 

agree  to  open  a  road  from  the  settled  country  on  the  river  of  Kennehek, 
to  the  houndarv  line  dividing  Mafsaehusets  from  the  Province  of  (Juehec, 
afsurint;  him  th;  t  Lieut,  (iovernor  Cramahe  would  inimeiiiately  meet  him 
from  the  last  settlements  on  the  river  t'haudiere  to  the  extent  ot  his  gov- 
ernment towards  the  Mafsachusets. 

His  F.xci'llen.y  informed  me,  That  the  troubles  and  confusion  now 
subsisting  in  hi^  Province,  join'd  to  the  present  spirit  of  the  people,  left 
him  but  little  room  to  imagine  that  any  regard  wou'i!  be  paid  to  any 
proposal  coming  from  him  however  beneficial  to  the  Province,  but  that  it 
Wdu'il  rather  be  vigourously  opposM.  lie  said  that  he  wouM  certainlv 
write  to  the  Minister  on  this  matter. 

I  had  the  honor  to  dine  with  him  on  the  :  ;ii,  wluii  we  talk'd  over  the 
road  scheme  a  second  time — 1  tiiul  that  there's  no  prosped  of  receiving 
any  afsistance  from  the  .\fsendiK. 

I  also  made  it  my  business  to  learn  the  opinions  of  such  as  I  know, 
concerning  the  propos'd  new  road.  It  is  thought,  that  if  a  grant  of  monev 
were  requesteil  for  this  service,  the  proposal  wou'd  be  rejetled — because 
the  majority  of  the  house  haw  lands  to  the  Westward.  The  new  settle- 
ments on  Kemubek,  \c.  drain  the  Western  parts  of  i!k  Province  of  their 
inhabitants,  and  reduce  the  value  of  lands,  tor  this  reason  thev  will  not 
encourage  the  settlement  of  the  j-.ast  by  opening  roads,  or  in  anv  other 
way;  and  another  reason  eipially  wcightv,  is:  The  people  imagine  that  all 
the  lands  lying  to  the  I'.astwanl  of  Pisiataway  River  as  far  as  the  western 
boumlary  of  Nova  Scotia,  will  be  seperated  from  the  Mafsachusets,  and 
erefted  info  a  new  Province.  In  this  case  the  monev  expendeii  on  a  road 
into  Canada  this  way,  would  be  so  much  lost  to  the  Province  of  the  Maf- 
sachusets, 


I 


BY  Hugh  Finlav. 


27 


I  apply'd  to  some  of  the  proprietors  of  a  very  extensive  traft  of  land 
lying  on  the  banks  of  the  River  of  Kennebek— it  is  the  property  of  the 
I'lyniouth  Company  :  they  are  very  sensible  that  a  road  thro'  their  great 
trad  would  accelerate  the  settlement  of  their  lands,  and  in  a  few  years 
double  their  value;  but  from  Doctor  Gardiner  (a  principal)  I  find  that 
they  imagine  that  they  may  have  interest  with  the  House  of  Afsembly,  to 
grant  a  sum  for  the  purpose  of  opening  a  Post  road  thro'  their  lands  up  to 
the  boundary  between  (Quebec  and  Mafsachusets  in  the  streightest  direc- 
tion ;  I  find  also  that  if  they  shou'd  be  disappointed  in  their  expeftations, 
they  will  probably  open  the  communication  themselves  if  they  find  it 
necefsary  to  induce  settlers,  yet  their  attempt  to  obtain  a  grant  will  require 
much  time— thev  will  spare  no  pains  to  save  their  own  money — thus  it 
appears  that  the  opening  of  this  most  desirable  pafs  is  at  a  very  distant 
period  unlefs  some  Regiments  by  an  order  from  home,  are  put  to  this  very 

useful  work. 

The  Deputy  Post  Master  General  commanded  me  "  to  enquire  minutely 
"  into  the  time  of  the  arrival  of  the  Saturday's  Post  at  Boston,  and  what 
"there  is  to  hinder  them  from  getting  in  by  11  or  li  o'clock  in  place  ot 

"  the  evening." 

Mr  Hubbard  receives  the  mails  from  the  Westward,  in  the  summer 
about  6  o'clock  in  the  evening  of  Saturday,  in  winter  the  arrival  of  the 
I'ost  is  very  uncertain,  it  is  sometimes  late  on  Sunday  when  snow,  and 
high  winds,  with  floating  ice  detains  him  at  the  different  ferrys.  He  says, 
that  the  arrival  of  the  I'ost  sooner  than  six  o'clock  on  Saturday  evening 
cannot  benefit  the  trading  body  in  Boston,  as  they  have  until  Monday  I't 
two  o'clock  to  answer  their  letters. 


28 


Joi  RNAI.    KKI'T 


The  iiKTcliaiits  iicvcrtlulcls  wish  ti)  liiivc  tlic  arrival  of  the  mails  tixM  to 
12  o'clock  on  Saturdays  because  if  the  fix'il  aiui  customary  time  is  twelve, 
he  may  surely  ijet  in  by  the  evening  in  bad  weather  and  of  course  our  letters 
will  be  deliver'd  to  us  on  Saturday  night,  at  present  si\  is  the  hour,  but  it 
is  sometimes  so  late  'ere  the  Post  arrives  that  we  cannot  get  our  letters  out 
of  the  office  until  Sunday  evening  —  for  Mr  Huhbards  rule  is  to  keep  the 
office  shut  until  sunset  on  Sunday. 

Peter  Mumford  rides  between  Boston  antl  New  Port  in  Rhode  Island;  be 
has  never  given  bond  nor  did  he  ever  take  a  Post  rider's  oath.  1  le  avers 
that  he  is  an  expeditious  rider  and  faithful  to  the  office;  publick  report  is 
against  him  ;  it  is  said  that  he  carries  more  letters  for  his  own  private  profit 
than  are  sent  from  all  the  offices  he  stops  at,  to  the  office  at  Boston.  He 
transads  a  great  deal  of  businefs  on  the  road,  loads  his  carriage  with  bundles, 
buys  and  sells  on  commifsion,  and  in  short  but  carrvs  the  mail  by  the  by 
as  it  helps  to  defray  his  expences.  Of  this  I  shall  take  no  further  notice 
here;  1  shall  make  farther  enquiry's  as  1  pafs  along  to  New  Port,  there 
tender  the  oath  to  him  and  bring  him  under  bonds. 

N.B.  To  accomplisli  Mr  I'oxcrofts  desire  the  titne  granted  to  the 
different  riders  nuisr  be  regulated,  that  six  hours  may  be  ijain'd  in  the  ridiny 
work  between  New  '^'ork  and  Boston,  which  may  most  certainly  he  done, 
but  as  I  pafs  along  from  office  to  office  I  shall  be  enabled  to  ascertain  this 
matter. 

Peter  Mumfords  ride  from  Boston  to  New  Port  is  Ho  miles  pafsinu 
thro'  I'rovidence,  Warren  and  Bristol  for  which  service  he  is  obliged  to 
keep  three  horses  and  is  paid  L'40  Str.  \>  ann. 

lie  should  leave  Boston  at  three  o'clock  Monday  afternoon,  but  I  am 
told  th.it  it  is  ;  or  (1  ere  he  takes  horse,  he  arrives  at  Pro\  idence,  4<  miles. 


!| 


BY  Hugh  Finlay. 


29 


at  9  o'clock  next  morning  and  at  New  Port,  35  miles  farther,  ^t  5  o'clock 
in  the  evening  of  Tuesday.    On  his  return  from  New  Port  with  the  western 
mails  he  leaves  that  office  on  Friday,  half  past  two  P.  M.,  pafs.ng  thro 
Bristol  and  Warren  he  arrives  at  Providence  between  7  and  8  o'clock  on 
Saturday   morning,  he  leaves  it  at  9  and  arrives  at  Boston  at  siX  in  the 

evening  in  fine  weather.  r  l-    •      u 

Thus  26  hours  are  requir'd  to  rid.  80  miles.  The  reason  of  this  is,  the 
rider  sleeps  by  the  way.  If  this  ride  is  too  much  for  one  man  to  perform 
let  the  ride  be  divided  in  two,  and  let  there  be  no  sleeping.  Twenty  hours 
may  be  given  to  ride  80  miles,  and  there  will  be  time  sufficient  to  feed  and 
chan<re  horses  and  for  the  riders  to  attend  a  sufficient  time  at  every  office. 
There's  three  ferrys  between  Providence  and  New  Port,  one  near  to  I  ro- 
vidence  half  a  mile  wide,  another  at  Warren  a  skow  ferry,  and  one  from 
the  Main  to  Rhode  Island  a  mile  over,  they  are  all  well  attended. 

Let  me  here  observe  that  short  stages  will  encrease  the  speed  of  the  mails, 
and  were  they  all  to  be  nx'd  at  30  miles  or  thereby  it  wou'd  answer  many 
good  purposes.  The  best  wou'd  be  expedition,  and  besides  letters  wou  d 
not  be  so  frequently  entrusted  to  a  riders  care  nor  wou'd  they  be  so  much 
employed  in  executing  commifsions  to  retard  their  progrefs  with  the  mails. 
Pet:-r  Mumford  lives  at  New  Port,  were  his  ride  curtailed  one  half  he 
would  stop  at  Providence.  New  Port  has  but  little  connexion  with  I  ro- 
vidence  but  their  intercourse  with  Boston  is  great-by  having  two  riders 
it  wou'd  be  found  difficult  to  transact  businefs  by  means  of  the  couriers 

between  these  two  places. 

Complaints  are  made  of  the  stupidity  of  the  man  who  attends  the  office 
.t  Boston.  Mr  Hubbard  is  not  blam'd  in  any  thing  except  for  m,t  em- 
ploying a  sharp  lively  fellow  where  expedition  is  always  look'd  for.     I  here  s 


3° 


Journal  kept 


no  runner  employ'd  at  this  office;  one  wou'd  be  useful.  The  riders  have 
no  Post  horns. 

The  accounts  in  this  office  are  regularly  kept  and  pundtually  transmitted 
to  the  Comptroller  every  quarter. 

Some  people  wish  to  have  the  Canada  mail  sent  direftly  from  Albany  to 
Boston,  at  present  the  letters  from  thence  are  sent  thro'  New  York.  The 
whole  amount  of  the  postage  of  letters  between  Boston  and  Canada  would 
not  pay  i'„th  part  of  a  riders  wages. 


Left  Boston  the  25th  and  rode  45  miles  to 

Providence. 


The  road  is  good  tho'  a  little  rocky  in  some  places.  John  Carter  is 
Deputy  here,  he  is  a  printer,  seemingly  an  adlive  sensible  man  :  he  has  had 
charye  of  the  office  two  vears. 


26th. — At  the  I'ost-office — or  rather  the  printing  office;  for  there's  no 
apartment  appropriated  for  the  recc't  and  delivery  of  letters,  tho'  they  are 
kept  lock'd  up.     I  find  that  Mr  Carter  has  never  return'd  his  accounts. 

He  has  been  in  dayly  expertation  to  receive  the  books  of  the  office,  the 
instrudions  and  the  forms  from  one  Cole,  the  former  deputy,  but  he  has 
put  him  off  with  excuses  from  day  to  day.  This  Cole's  now  in  the  country 
attending  a  county  Court,  when  he  returns,  Mr  Carter  experts  the  book,-. 
&:c.  will  be  deliver'd  up  to  him,  and  he  promises  to  transmit  his  accounts 
and  remit  whatever  may  be  due,  to  the  Comptroller  in  three  weeks  from 
this  day. 


BY  Hugh  Finlay. 


31 


Mr  Carter  represents  "that  the  mails  from  the  westward  by  a  late  alter^ 
..ation  in  the  Post  route  now  crofs  fi.e  ferry  s  between  Na^ga-t  -d 
..providence,  whereas  by  the  old  route  there's  not  so  much  -  -e  f  ry 
..fo  crofs.  The  Post  previous  to  this  regulation  arnved  at  Prov.denc 
..on  Friday  evening  at  9  o'cloC,  now  at  soonest  it  is  Sa-rday  --ng  a 
..nine,  and  in  winter  it  is  sometimes  Sunday  mornmg.  Tuesday,  nay  even 

'TtlTm.,s  to  crofs  five  ferrys.  in  the  small  d.tance  of  50  mijes 
..  (two  of  them  dangerous  in  winter)  cannot  be  for  the  K.ngs  serv.ce      A 
.■an  addition  to  this  representation,  he  begs  leave  to  observe,  that  after 
..1  mails  from  the  wLward  arrive  at  New  London.  ^He  Pnnt^  th-e 
..extraas  all  advices  from  newspapers,  which  requ.res  cons.derable  t  me 
..the  New  London  paper  is  afterwards  printed  contammg   hese  extradls 
..and  it  it  sent  to  him  by  a  private  conveyance  by  way  of  Norw.ch.  by 
..which  the  New  York  paper  is  also  sent  to  him.  both  wh.ch  he  rece.ves 
..  1 2  sometimes  i.  hours  before  the  arrival  of  the  Post. 

Left  Providence  the  ayth  and  the  28th  arriv'd  at 

New  Port,  Thomas  Fernon,  Depy. 

The  distance  is  35  miles. 

Went  to  the  Post  office  which  is  here  kept  ,n  a  small  room  apart,  I 
shew-d  Mr  Vernon  my  authority  from  Mr  Foxcroft  to  sett  e  accounts 
with  him  and  to  receive  his  balance.  He  appointed  Saturday  for  a  settle- 
Lnt  Saturday  examined  his  books,  and  found  them  ,n  form  and  order 
and  settled  his  account  up  to  the  5th  of  Oftober,  ,773-  H.s  accounc  of 
the  arrival  and  departure  of  the  Post  agrees  with  the  Boston  account.     He 


32 


Journal  kept 


is  of  opinion  that  much  tinu-  is  lost  by  I'ctcr  Muniforii  between  New  Port 
and  Boston.  F^e  says  tiiat  theres  two  Post  offices  in  New  Port,  the  King's 
and  Mumfords,  and  that  the  revenue  of  the  hist  is  the  greatest.  It  is  the 
same  in  Boston,  both  Muniford  and  the  rider  of  the  upper  Stages  (Hyde) 
recei\e  much  postage  for  which  tliey  do  not  account.  It  is  common  for 
people  who  exped  letters  bv  Post  finding  none  at  the  Post  office  to  say 
"we//  there  must  be  letters,  we'll  fiiit/  them  at  Mumfords."  It  is  next  to 
inipofsible  to  put  a  stop  to  this  pra(;tice  in  the  present  universal  opposi- 
tion to  every  thing  connec'k-d  with  (ireat  Britain.  Were  any  Deputy  Post 
Master  to  do  his  duty,  and  make  a  stir  in  such  matter,  he  would  draw  on 
himself  the  odium  of  his  neighbours  and  be  niark'd  as  the  friend  of  Slav- 
ery and  opprefsion  and  a  declar'd  enemv  to  .America. 

The  two  ferrys  from  Rhoiie  Islam!  over  to  Naniganset  are  each  three 
miles  and  a  half  over;  in  winter  when  the  wind  is  ahead,  with  floating  ice, 
it  is  both  very  difficult,  and  exceedingly  dangerous  to  pafs,  and  sometimes 
tho'  but  seldom  the  course  of  the  Post  is  stop'd  for  a  week,  this  does  not 
happen  above  twice  or  thrice  in  a  vear. 

N.  B. — These  ferrys  can  be  avoided  by  leaving  the  New  Port  mail  at 
Towerhill,  but  in  this  case  there  must  be  a  bv-rider  for  New  Port. 


On  Saturday  evening  sat  out  for  Bristol  to  settle  with  Mr  Usher  the 
deputy  there. 

Bristol 
is  12  miles  from  New  Port,  a  viii.ige  of  no  trade  and  of  verv  little  conse- 
quence any  way.  The  dept.  was  not  at  home,  but  on  my  return  towards 
New  Port  next  day  I  met  him  on  the  road.  He  promised  to  bringdown 
his  papers  to  New  Port,  to  lay  them  before  me  as  he  knew  not  how  to 
make  up  his  accounts. 


I 


f 


BY  Hugh  Finlav, 


33 


November  ist.— Mr  Usher  brought  his  papers,  and  I  sat  down  to  shew 
him  how  to  keep  his  accounts,  and  made  them  up  for  him  to  the  5th 
Jany,  177J — he  promises  to  finish  them  soon,  and  send  them  with  the 
balance  due ;  he  has  kept  the  office  two  years,  the  whole  sum  received  in 
that  time  is  about  i  10  lawful.  He  has  no  commifsion  nor  exemption 
from  ser/ing  as  a  juryman  &c. 

Wrote  to  Mr  Burr  dep.  at  Warren  to  send  his  accounts.  Saw  Ben. 
Mumford,  the  rider  between  New  Port  and  Say  Brook.  He  represents 
that  it  is  not  pofsible  for  him  to  continue  in  the  service  of  the  office  with- 
out his  wages  are  augmented  or  his  ride  shortened,  and  beg  leave  to  refer 
all  further  representation  until  I  shall  have  examined  his  stage,— this  man 
bears  the  charafter  of  a  sober,  diligent  man,  and  an  expeditious  rider. 

3d.— Peter  Mumford  took  the  oath  of  a  Post  rider,  and  sign'd  proper 
bonds.  I  warned  him  of  his  danger  in  carrying  letters  privately  for  his  own 
emolument,  and  that  my  instruftions  might  make  a  deep  imprefsion  on 
him,  1  wrote  him  a  letter  shewing  him  what  he  is  bound  to  perform  and 
enclosed  a  copy  of  his  bond  and  oath. 

5th  November.— Left  New  Port,  it  blew  then  very  hard,  the  ferry  is 
three  miles  and  a  half  across;  the  wind  tho'  strong  was  pretty  fair;  we 
crofs'd  in  twenty  minutes ;  from  the  landing  over  the  Island  Conanicut  is 
i  of  a  mile  pretty  good  road  to  a  second  ferry  of  three  miles  ;  the  wind 
increased  and  headed  us ;  we  cmbark'd  in  a  terrible  sea,  in  the  open  ferry- 
boat close  hauled ;  the  man  who  attended  the  sail  was  late  in  easing  off 
the  sheets  in  a  squall,  the  boat  lay  down  and  we  were  in  great  danger;  the 
boats  at  these  ftrrys  are  very  fine  ;  we  got  over  in  lefs  than  an  hour. 
Rode  on  four  mile  to  Towerhill. 


.!+ 


Journal  kept 


Mr  Sands  the  master  of  the  house  'ay  sick  in  heii,  I  cou'ii  not  see  him. 
Letters  are  sent  from  different  parts  of  the  country  to  this  house  to  be 
forwarded  by  I'ost  to  New  I'ort  &c.  Kastward,  to  New  London  &c. 
Westward.  Next  morning  saw  Mr  Sands  very  ill  in  bed.  He  has  no 
commifsion  but  will  take  one. 


6th. — Continued  my  route  towards  New  London  where  I  cxperted  to 
arrive  in  the  evening,  but  I  found  the  road  past  all  conception  bad  so  that 
from  daybreak  until  sunset  I  made  but  j  j  miles  and  put  up  at  a  little 
tavern  4  mile  east  of  New  London.  The  road  is  one  continued  bed  of 
rocks  and  very  hilly.  It  is  inipofsible  for  a  I'ost  to  ride  above  4  mile  an 
hour  in  such  road,  and  to  do  even  that  he  must  have  a  good  horse,  one 
used  to  such  a  rockv  path. 


7th. — (Jot  to  the  ferry  at  9  o'clock  in  the  morning  and  pafsed  the  River 
Thames  a  mile  wide  to 

New  I.omkn. 


'l"he  ferry  is  very  well  attended,  it  is  ncr  difficult— they  grumble  at 
being  obliij'd  to  carry  the  Post  over  when  it  is  dark,  or  when  it  rains  or 
blows,  they  seem  much  inclin'd  to  refuse  the  service  but  they  fear  the 
consequence. 

Sth.— Visited  John  S.  Miller,  the  Deputy,  he  keeps  his  office  in  a  room 
hir'd  on  purpose  in  the  very  centre  of  the  town.  He  is  a  young  man  who 
talks  sensibly  of  I>„st  Office  matters,  and  who  seems  to  be  a  Post  Master 
in  his  heart.     His  office  is  neat,  his  books  tair  and  up,  his  papers  are  in 


M 


BY  Hugh  Finlay. 


35 


order  and  every  thing  is  in  due  form.  One  bad  custom  has  crept  in  at 
New  London,  the  people  in  Mr  Chews  time  (the  former  Post  Master) 
had  free  accefs  at  all  times  to  the  office;  Mr  Miller  bus  attempted  to  break 
this  custom,  but  he  finds  he  cannot,  without  quarreling  with  his  friends 

Mr  Miller  regularly  transmits  his  quarterly  accounts  to  the  comptroller 
The  whole  income  of  his  office  goes  to  pay  the  rider  Benjamin  Mumford 
between  Saybrook  and  New  Port,  a  distance  of  60  miles,  with  five  ferrys, 
on  the  whole  the  most  difficult  and  as  dangerous  as  any  in  America;  the 
road  without  exception  the  worst,  for  which  service  he  is  paid  €SS  Str.  ? 
ann--he  says  that  the  number  of  horses  he  hurts  thro'  the  badnefs  of  the 
roads  runs  away  with  all  his  profit,  and  that  as  there's  no  manner  of  per- 
quisite for  a  rider  between  Saybrook  and  New  Port,  his  wages  are  too  small 
to  provide  him  in  horses  and  maintain  his  family.     I  firmly  believe  it. 

It  is  the  custom  on  every  stage  that  I  have  surveyed,  for  the  Post  rider 
to  execute  commifsions  on  the  road-I  have  been  informed  that  Peter 
Mumford  the  rider  between  Newport  and  Boston  makes  above  tioo  Str. 
yearly  of  his  employment  over  and  above  his  wages  from  the  Post  office. 
Benjamin  Mumford  petitions  that  his  stage  may  be  between  New  Port 
and  New  London  and  no  farther,  and  that  he  may  be  allow'd  h.s  present 

salary  for  that  service. 

On  consulting  Mr  Miller  on  this  matter  he  said  he  wou'd  afsign  reasons 
why  B.  Mumford  should  not  proceed  to  Saybrook,  and  the  next  day  he 
delivered  a  paper  to  me  containing  the  following  reasons: 

"Mr  Miller,  Deputy  Post  Master  of  New  London,  is  of  opinion  that 
"the  stages  from  the  Eastward  and  Westward  to  this  town  upon  the  pres- 
"cnt  footing  is  unequal  to  the  riders,  an  inconveniency  to  thepublick,  and 
"of  hurt  to  the  Revenue,  therefore  begs  leave  to  propose, 


J6 


JoiRNAl.     KEPT 


^ 


"ist,  Tlwr  the  Kastcrn  riilcr  Ben.  Miimford'  may  make  his  stage 
"between  this  tmvii  anvi  Newport:  it  will  he  as  much  as  he  or  any  man 
"can  perform  in  the  time  allotted  him  considering  the  terry's  at  New  I'ort 
"and  at  New  London,  which  he  must  pals  to  perform  it — He  should  not 
"proceed  to  Savhrook  as  he  now  does. 

"  :d,  That  the  Western  do  meet  the  Kastcrn  riiler  at  this  place  on 
"Wednesday  evcnini.',  which  may  he  done  if  the  Western  rider  will  make 
"more  expedition  than  he  now  does,  or  another  rider  may  he  a|/pointed  at 
"Savhrook  to  receive  the  m;>il  from  the  Westward  and  pro;eeil  with  it  to 
"this  office. 

"jd,  To  exchange  mails  at  this  place  will  lie  extremely  agreeable  to  the 
"merchants,  as  it  wil'  jnit  it  in  their  power  to  return  answers  to  all  the 
"letters  thev  receive,  the  same  week,  which  as  the  mails  are  now  forwarded 
"they  cannot  do,  and  thus  a  lofs  arises  to  the  "ievenue  as  they  are  obliged 
"to  send  their  letters  by  boats  \c.  for  want  of  a  more  expeditious 
"conveyance. 

"4th,  The  reasonahlenefs  of  this  projiosal  will  appear,  when  it  is  con- 
"sidered  that  this  place  is  nearly  centrical  between  New  \'orkand  Boston, 
"there  being  but  a  tew  miles  tlifterence,  and  at  Saybrook  where  the  riders 
"exchange  mails,  tlv.'re's  no  office. 

''5th,  If  it  be  juil'jed  expedient  that  the  above  regulations  take  place  it 
"will  be  necefsary  to  nuike  an  alteration  relative  to  the  paym't  of  the 
"salary  paid  at  this  office  to  the  T.astern  rider,  namelv,  that  after  paying 
"the  Sa'  Brook  lidcr,  the  remainder  be  p.uil  to  MumfortI,  and  for  what 
"may  fall  short  in  this  office  let  him  apj  U  to  the  I'ost  Master  at  New 
"Port;  the  revenue  of  the  New  I.oiulon  office  has  not  hitherto  been  able 
"to  tlischarge  a  ureafer  >.utn  than  MumtiirdN  wages. 


i  [ 


Bv  Hugh  Finlay. 


.17 


"6th,  In  the  winter,  it  often  happens  that  the  Posts  are  deta.n'd  at 
"Say  Brook  ferry,  by  ice,  winds,  &c.  when  this  happens,  let  them  give  a 
"signal  to  each  other,  and  proceed  farther  up  the  river  where  they  may 

•  ,  ..  Sicn'd,  J.  S.   Miller. 

"cross  with  ease.  -^'y^f  j 

After  having  perused  the  above  representation  and  put  several  questions 
to  Mr  Miller,  I  inform'd  him  that  I  shou'd  lay  the  matter  before  the 
Deputy  Cieneral,  after  examining  the  other  part  of  B.  Mumfords  st  .ge  to 
the  Westward  of  New  London.  I  desir'd  him  to  enquire  for  a  proper 
person  at  Saybrook  or  in  New  London,  in  the  meantime  who  wou'd  under- 
take the  ride,  if  it  should  be  thought  proper  to  alter  the  Kastern  riders 

Waited  with  impatience  for  Mumford's  arrival  from  New  Port.  The 
time  fixed  for  the  arrivals  fron,  thence  are  Wednesday  evening  6  o'clock. 
The  rider  proceeds  5  miles  to  the  rope  ferry,  there  he  sleeps,  and  proceeds 
next  morning  to  Say  Brook  13  miles,  where  ',c  arrives  at  ..  o'clock,  he 
there  meets  the  Western  rider,  and  he  exchanges  mails  with  him  and 
immediately  sets  out  on  his  return  to  New  London,  where  he  arrives,  in 
good  weather  at  two  o'clock,  in  winter  it  is  three,  or  later:  he  makes  no 
stop  but  proceeds  to  New  l>ort,  where  he  arrives  on  Friday  afternoon. 

,,th.— Wrote  to  Mr  Babcock,  !)ep.  at  Westerly,  whom  I  did  not  see 
in  my  way  to  this  place,  desiring  him  to  sen.l  his  accounts  up  to  the  last 
quarter  with  the  balance  due,  to  the  Comp'r. 

Finding  it  w..u'd  be  convenient  to  h.ive  an  hours  conversation  with  the 
Western  rider,  I  sat  out  for  Saybrook,  and  arriv'd  thereabout  two  o'clock, 
1  t\u.na  the  road  pretty  good  from  the  rope  ferry,  wherr  I  found  old  Herd 
,hc   Western   rider  waitinu   Mumford's  arrival  :   he  h,ul   been  here   three 


J8 


JofRNAI.    KEI'T 


hours— it  is  very  uncustomary  for  the  riders  to  he  dctainM  at  this  season, 
hut  I  conclude  he  finds  it  impoCsihle  to  pafs  at  the  Rhode  Island  ferrys, 
from  high  contrary  winds.  This  man  Herd  at  72  is  strong  and  rohust,  he 
has  been  in  the  service  46  years;  he  pretends  that  he  makes  nothing  by 
it,  and  says  "he  will  give  it  up— that  at  present  he  only  rides  for  his 
"healths  sake,  which  induces  him  to  keep  it." 

It  is  well  known  that  he  has  made  an  estate  by  his  riding,  and  it  is  said, 
in  the  following  wav, 

Way  letters  he  makes  his  own  perquisite,  or  rather  he  has  done  so  in 
former  times,  at  present  each  office  checks   him  a  little-He  does   much 
businefs  on  the  road  on  commifsion,  he  is  a  publick  carrier,  and  loads  his 
horse  with   merchandise  for  people  living  in  his  route;  he  receives  cash 
and  carry's  mo.,ey  backwards  and  forwards,  takes  care  of  return'd  horses,' 
and  in  short  refuses  no  businets  however  it  mav  affect  his  spee.l  as  Post' 
But   for  the  delays  occasioned  bv  his  own  alfa.rs,  he  might  perform  his 
rule  m  time,  in  any  weather.     -lis  ridiculous  to  see  his  Majestvs  courier 
metamorphosM  to  a  snail  paced  Carrier.     I  le  has  the  addrefs  to  be  pund- 
ual  in  his  arrivals  at  New  York.     Both   Herd   and    Mumford  have   lost 
weeks  at  Say  Brook  and  made  the  impofsibilitv  of  pafsing  by  reason  of 
winds,  ice,  &c.  an  excuse  for  their  delays,  while  at  bottom  la/inefs  was  th. 
real  cause. 

By  the  sketch  on  the  next  page,  is  see,  the  route  from  Nc*  London  to 
Saybrook;  the  double  lines  mark  the  I'ost  road-th«  .ingle  clotted  line 
marks  away  from  New  London  but  ,«o  .„■  three  mile,  about  to  a  place  on 
tonnedlKut  River  where  the  I'ost  may  always  pufs. 

Now  let  them  in  winter  constantly  pafs  ,h,s  way  or  let  them  take  the  old 
road  ,f  they  «,ll.      When   thev  Hnd   the  winds  too   high   or   the   pafsage 


///'«//'  iwm  Xtw  Lmdon  hi  Saifhitrnk 


)W  Nw«*lM«.lxtWt*k«t"   lllna^i 


11 


BY  Hugh  Finlay. 


39 


obstruded  by  ice  let  them  agree  on  a  signal  to  inform  each  other  that  they 
have  gone  up  the  river.  By  this  means  the  detentions  at  Sayhrook  will 
be  avoided,  and  there  will  be  no  breaks  in  the  Post  riding. 

After  questioning  old  Herd  (who  is  not  backward  in  sounding  his  own 
praises)  on  sundry  matters,  I  asked  him  it  he  would  lengthen  his  ride  by 
proceeding  to  New  London,  but  he  peremptorily  refuses  to  go  farther  than 
Sav  Brook  on  any  consideration. 

Crofs'd  the  ferry,  it  is  well  attended,  about  i  of  a  mile  in  width,  the 
boa's  are  good  tho'  not  so  large  as  those  at  Rhode  Island.  I  proceeded  7 
miles  farther  on,  in  a  fine  road  md  put  up  at  a  publick  house  where  the 
Post  always  stAps,  I  intended  to  proceed  with  him  at  whatever  hour  he 
shou'd  arrive. 


1  2th. —  The  Post  not  come  up,  proceeded  alone  towards  New  Haven, 
pafsing  thro'  well  settled  Townships.  Killingsworth  is  a  pleasant  village, 
a  mile  long  :  Kast  and  West  CJuilford  are  large  villages,  as  is  Bamford 
likewise ;  there  must  certr.inly  pafs  many  letters  to  and  from  these  towns, 
but  the  riders  1  believe  make  them  a  perquisite,  as  there's  no  offices  in 
these  places  to  check  them.  The  road  is  very  good.  The  ferry  at  New 
Haven,  or  rather  two  miles  from  it  is  about  100  yds  wide  and  is  pretty 
well  attendeti  ;   from  the  ferry  to  the  town  the  road  was  good. 

Many  people  ask'd  me  if  I  hid  1  ot  met  the  Post  driving  some  oxen; 
it  seems  he  had  agreed  to  bring  some  along  with  him. 


40 


Journal  kept 
iVcK'  //liven,   Christopher  KMy,   Ihfun. 


This  is  a  large  flourishing  Sea  Port  Town.     Went  to  the  Post-Otfice. 

•Jf^"- — Kxamined  his  books:  questioned  him  and  found  that  he  under- 
stands his  businefs  thoroughly;  hi  l.iiticnrs  that  hi;  cannot  put  the  Afts  of 
Parliament  in  force.  He  says  that  if  everv  vcfsel  arriving  at  this  port 
were  to  send  her  letters  to  thi  office  the  income  wou'd  be  doubled  and 
the  revenue  increas'd  in  other  parrs;  bur  when  he  sends  to  the  Ship  Mas- 
ters, they  insult  and  threaten  his  mefsengers ;  the  Custom  House  officers 
tho'  direded  by  Adl  of  Parliament  to  admit  no  vcfsel  to  entry  without  the 
Post  Masters  certificate,  take  no  notice  of  the  ad. 

He  has  remitted  the  last  quarters  accounts  with  the  balance  due  thereon 
to  the  Comptroller.  He  complains  much  of  the  Post  riders;  he  begs 
that  the  complaints  may  not  appear  to  have  come  from  him,  because  the 
riders  being  of  service  to  the  people  on  the  road  have  many  friends  in  the 
country  as  well  as  in  town,  and  the  name  of  informer  (which  his  official 
representations  would  incur  from  his  neighbours)  wou'd  hurt  him  in  his 
businefs,  but  in  conscience  he  looks  on  himself  as  obligated  to  represent 
the  following  matters  : 

"That  the  ritiers  come  loaded  with  bundles,  packages,  boxes,  canisters, 
"&c.— every  pack.ige  has  a  letter  affixai  to  it,  which  the  rider  claims  as 
"his  own  property  aiui  penpiisite  ;  nay  sometimes  a  small  bundle  of  chips, 
"straw  or  old  paper  accompanys  a  seal'd  packet  or  large  letter,  and  the 
"riders  insist  that  such  letters  .ire  exempted  from  postage." 

"The  riders  have  told  .Mr  Kilby  that  the  Devil  might  ride  for  them  if 
"these  way  letters  and  packets  vseie  to  he  taken  from  them.      in  short,  thev 


t\i 


Bv  Hugh  Finlay. 


41 


"come  so  loaded  that  it  is  impofsible  for  them  to  come  in  time.  The 
''load  of  news  papers  is  so  very  great  that  the  printers  can  afford  a  sum 
'ot  i;6o  yearly  for  the  bare  carriage." 

"The  Portmanteaus  seldom  come  locked:  the  consequence  is  that  the 
'■riders  stuff  them  with  bundles  of  shoes,  stockings,  canisters,  money  or 
any  thing  they  get  to  carry,  which  tears  the  Portmanteaus,  and  rubs  the 
"letters  to  pieces-this  should  be  prevented  by  locking  the  mails  " 

From  the  representation  of  Mr  Kilbyand  if  it  be  true,  that  they  ride  off 
the  road  to  deliver  summons's  and  buy  oxen  on  commifsion  and  drive  them 
wh.le  they  have  his  Majesty's  mails  under  their  care,  it  is  impofsible  that 
they  can  be  pundual  in  their  arrivals. 

If  their  Bonds  are  renewed  and  the  oath  tendered  to  them  again,  and  if 
they  are  commanded  not  to  employ  a  rider  who  has  not  previously  taken 
the  oath,  perhaps  it  wou'd  make  an  imprefsion  on  them. 

Kvery  rider  shou'd  be  furnished  with  extrads  from  the  several  acts  of 
Paniament  and  short  set  of  instrudions  deliver'd  to  him  chat  he  n.„y 
never  plead  ignorance. 

If  the  rides  were  reduced  to  jo  miles,  the  riders  well  paid  and  kept 
str,ftly  to  their  duty,  I  am  fully  convinced  that  the  mails  wou'd  be  for- 
warded w.th  speed,  and  the  Revenue  wou'd  be  greatly  increased  by  this 
means,  as  no  body  wou'd  chuse  to  risk  a  letter  for  a  place  at  a  distance 
wh.ch  must  unavoidably  pafs  thro'  the  hands  of  many  different  riders.' 
neither  wou'd  the  riders  chuse  to  take  charge  of  it. 

Herd  and  Peat  are  concerned  in  the  riding  work-they  both  live  at  Strat- 
ford, miles  to  the  Eastward  of  New  York.  They  carry  the  mail  week 
and  week  about. 


;  !  I 

t| 

;? 

42  Journal  kept 

Herd  takes  it  up  from  Peatc  on  his  return  home  and  proceeds  with  it 
to  the  office  at 

Norwalk  on  Friday  

New  York  on  Saturday 

Norwalk  returning  Tuesday 

New  Haven  on  Wednesday 

Saybrook  on  Thursday 

Stratford  where  Peate  takes  it  Friday 


22  miles, 

55 
67 
33 
44 


279 


Peate  takes  the  same  Tour,  and  so  alternately  taking  eight  days  to  ride 
279  miles,  which  is  but  J5  miles  a  day. 

They  may  pretend  that  they  arc  at  great  expence  for  horses ;  it  is  only 
a  pretence.     An  afs  couM  travel  faster,  they  seldom  or  never  change  horses. 

They  have  excuses  always  ready  framed  when  thev  come  in  late— "their 
horses  lost  shoes"-"  they  were  detained  at  ferrvs."-lt  is  their  own  busi- 
nefs  alone  which  detains  them.  They  have  sometimes  said  that  it  was  too 
hot  to  ride  and  at  other  times  that  it  rain'd  and  they  did  not  chusc  to  get 
wet. 

The  lower  Post  shou'd  arrive  on  Wednesday  at  ,2  o'clock,  but  it  is 
often  3  and  later;  they  are  dispatch'd  from  the  office  immediately,  yet  they 
are  seen  ,n  Town  two  hours  afterwards  transading  businefs  on  commifsion; 
he  returns  or  rather  ought  to  return  on  Thursday  evening  about  six,  but  it 
is  very  often  later. 

The  upper  rider  or  he  who  goes  by  Springfield,  Hartford  &c.  to  Boston 
shou  d  arrive  at  this  office  fro„,  New  York  on  Saturday  morning  S  o'clock 


^ 


By  Hugh  Finlay. 


4J 


but  he  makes  ,t  frequently  .i  or  12  ere  he  gets  in.  He  returns  from 
Hartford  on  Monday  night  at  7  o'clock.  It  is  remarked  that  when  the 
sons  nde  (Herd  often  employs  his  sons)  they  get  in  in  time,  they  are 
young  men  and  not  so  much  employ'd  in  the  commifsion  businefs. 

Mr  Kilby  is  oblig'd  to  attend  the  office  on  Wednesdays,  Thursdays, 
Saturdays  and  on  Mondays,  sometimes  all  the  day  and  part  v,f  the  night'. 
If  the  riders  did  but  their  duty  it  wou'd  ease  him  much.  His  office  does 
not  neat  him  above  .£,2  Str.  t»  annum.  He  begs  to  have  some  allowance 
in  cons.deratmn  of  his  great  trouble  and  close  attendance.  He  keeps  his 
office  in  a  small  corner  of  a  very  small  shop. 

While  I  was  in  the  office  the  rider  for  Hartford  arriv'd,  it  was  i ,  o'clock. 
His  Portmanteau  was  not  lock'd,  it  was  stuff'd  with  bundles  of  different 
k>nds,  and  crammed  with  news  papers:  the  letters  for  the  different  stages 
were  not  put  up  in  bags,  the  rider  had  saddle  bags  quite  full  besides,  so 
that  his  horse  (a  poor  looking  beast)  was  loaded  too  much  to  make  the 
necefsary  speed. 


After  settling  with  Mr  Kilby,  and  instrufting  him  in  his  duty  relative 
to  checking  the  riders,  I  left  New  Haven  and  procee4ed  21  miles' to 

Fairfield. 


The  road  is  stoney  in  some  places,  but  a  good  road  on  horseback. 

The  High  Sherrif  for  the  county  waited  on  me,  and  represented  that  an 
office  is  much  wanted  in  this  Town  to  hinder  the  impositions  of  the  Post 
riders.  He  informs  me  Herd  not  long  since  deliver'd  to  him  a  letter 
from  New  York  mark'd  in  red  ink  2,  which  he  did  understand  to  be  2  dwt. 
or  6d.  Str.,  but  the  rider  wou'd  not  deliver  it  to  him,  unless  he  wou'd  pay 


K^ 


AA  Journal  kept 

him  two  shillings  lawful  money  equal  to  J  of  a  Spanish  milled  dollar,  which 
he  was  oblig'd  to  do  knowing  the  letter  to  be  of  consequence— he  show'd 
me  the  office  mark,  it  was  a  single  letter  mark'd  2  dwt.-he  further  says 
that  this  is  an  ordinary  praftice  with  the  post  riders,  and  it  has  more  than 
once  happened  to  him. 

A  letter  was  delivered  to  the  rider  at  New  York  as  it  was  too  late  to  go 
in  the  mail ;  he  brought  it  here,  but  wou'd  not  deliver  it  without  receiving 
js.  for  it  tho'  but  single. 

He  seems  afsured  that  an  office  here  wou'd  benefit  the  Revenue,  as  there's 
numbers  of  letters  for  this  place  in  a  )x:v:,  and  as  this  is  the  best  settled 
county  in  Connedicut,  he  thinks  it  wou'd  help  its  trade  and  be  of  particular 
advantage  to  the  people  of  the  Town  especially  when  the  court  sits  here. 

If  the  Post  Master  General  shall  see  it  proper  to  establish  an  office 
here,  Mr  Burr  would  recommend  the  care  of  it  to  Mr  Elijah  Abel,  for 
whose  good  conduft  he  will  become  bound. 

He  says  that  Andrew  (old  Herds  son)  is  a  c^ircful  man,  but  Kbenezer 
(another  son)  exafts  and  is  carelefs. 


Rested  here  all  Sunday,  next  day,  the  15th,  proceeded  12  miles  in  broken 

stoncy  road  to 

Norwttlk.     Mr  Beldin^,  Post  Master. 


Examined  his  books  and  found  thtrn  in  order,  he  keeps  his  office  in  a 
small  apartment  lock'd  up.  He  has  not  remitted  his  last  quarters  accounts ; 
he  said  he  wou'd  do  it  very  soon  and  remit  the  balance  of  about  .I'j-  lawful. 

The  yearly  amount  of  Postage  here  does  not  exceed  £iQ. 


BY  Hugh  Finlav. 


45 


%■ 


The  rider  for  the  Lower  stage  arrives  here  from  New  York  on  Tuesday 
at  one  o'clock  and  returns  from  the  Eastward  on  P'riday  evening  at  6  o'clock. 

The  upper  rider  to  Hartford  arrives  from  ^Tew  York  on  Friday  at  one 
o'clock  ami  returns  from  Hartford  on  Tuesday  ali^>;'-  six  o'clock  in  the 
evening  but  this  is  only  when  the  roads  arc  good :  in  winter  the  riders  are 
very  irregular. 

On  taking  notice  to  Mr  Belding  that  there  is  no  way  letters  enter'd  in 
his  books,  he  reniark'd  that  the  riders  undoubtedly  pocketed  the  money 
collefted  for  way  letters,  of  which  there  comes  many  as  he  says,  within  his 
delivery. 

The  riders  sometimes  inadvertently  put  letters  into  the  office  which  they 
wish  to  conceal,  not  a  great  while  since  there  was  one  put  into  the  office 
by  the  rider  mark'd  Postage  paid.  Mr  Belding  demanded  the  money  of 
him  for  that  letter,  but  he  obstinately  refus'd  to  pay  it,  insisting  that  all 
letters  he  cou'd  pick  up  between  any  two  offices  were  of  right  his  perquisite. 

As  a  proof  that  the  couriers  conceal  large  sums  from  the  office  which  are 
raised  from  way  litters,  Mr  Beldings  information  is  sufficient. 

Before  he  had  charge  of  the  office  the  riders  used  to  leave  many  letters 
under  his  care,  fc-r  which  he  collefted  the  money,  and  he  accounted  with 
them  weekly,  but  since  he  has  been  appointed  Post  Ma  'er  they  do  not 
shew  him  one  single  letter;  yet  he  knows  that  they  briiiu;  many  everv  trip 
and  leave  m:iny  beiiind  them  with  a  friend  who  collefts  the  money  for  them 
in  their  absence. 

In  short,  1  find  that  it  is  the  constant  praftice  of  all  the  riders  between 
New  York  and  Boston  to  defraud  the  Revenue  as  much  as  they  can  in 
pocketing  the  postagi  of  all  way  letters.  Kvery  Deputy  Post  Master 
complains  against  them  for  this  practice,  and  for  their  shameful  tardinefs; 


r 


4<5 


Journal  kept 


i     II 


I  I 


likewise  of  the  barefaced  custom  of  making  pack  beasts  of  the  horses  which 
carry  His  Majesty's  Mails. 

Every  Post  Master  making  complaint,  or  giving  official  information, 
begs  that  his  name  may  never  be  mention'd  as  having  made  any  of  those 
representations. 


17th.— Left  Norwalk  and  proceeded  41  miles  to  Kingsbridge  in  good 
road,  and  next  morning  rode   15  miles  in  very  fine  road,  and  arrived  at 

jX("m  Ivrk, 
Where  the  General  Post  Office  is  kept  under  the  care  of  John  Antill 
acting  for  Alexander  Colden  Ksq.,  the  Deputy  Post  Master. 


I  remain'd  at  New  York  untill  I  had  Mr  Koxcroft's  permifsion  to  pro- 
ceed, which  was  not  before  the  fith  of  December;  as  he  was  in  davlv  ex- 
pedation  of  the  arrival  of  the  Odober  Packet  from  Kngland,  he  was  un- 
willing that  I  shou'd  leave  New  York  before  she  came  in,  because  he 
look'd  for  instrudions  for  the  Surveyor  by  her,  from  which  he  intended 
to  model  a  set  of  Instruftions  for  me. 

In  the  mean  time  I  was  employed  in  visiting  Mr  Colden,  and  learning 
Mr  I'oxcrofts  opinions  concerning,  and  plans  and  intentions  for  the  better 
regulation  of  all  matters  relative  to  the  Post  office,  imprefsiPg  them  on  my 
memory  that  in  the  course  of  my  survey  I  n,ight  appiv  that  i.strudion  to 
the  benefit  of  the  office  as  circumstances  might  point  out. 

The  books  in  this  office  are  regularly  kept,  and  the  quarterlv  accounts 
regularly  delivered  to  the  comptroller. 

Great  dispatch  is  given  to  the  different  riders,  who  are,  pundually  sent 
oft  at  the  stated  hours. 


BY  Hugh  Finlav. 


47 


Soon  after  the  arrival  of  a  mail  the  letters  are  quickly  deliv'd  by  a  runner 
always  in  time  for  answers  to  he  return'd  in  course;  this  regulation  gives 
much  satisfadlion  to  the  publick. 

There's  some  matters  respecting  the  management  of  this  office,  and  atten- 
dance given,  which  Mr  Foxcroft  finds  great  f'ult  with.  As  he  is  on  the 
spot,  he  will  check  the  acting  Post  Master  and  his  clerk,  and  put  every 
thing  on  a  proper  footing,  I  therefore  make  no  mention  further  of  the 
New  York  office,  only  to  note  the  dayly  businefs  there  'Jone,  and  to  add 
a  remark  or  two  of  Mr  Antills. 


F 

w 

3| 

If 

!' 

48 


PO 


JoiRNAI.   KEPT 

ST  ]).■/ )\\'  „t  X !:ir  roA>  A. 


MONDAY. 


ll'ESDAV. 


WEDNESOAV, 


A  mail  from  I'hilad* 
arrives  at  8  and  goes 
out  at  10  in  the  morn- 
ing, very  regularlv. 

At  I  :  the  Boston  Post 
by  way  of  New  Haven 
New  London,  Rhode 
Island  and  Providence 
is  dispatched.  I'his  is  ; 
called  the  lower  road. 


The  Quebec  Post  by  Ihe  Boston  Mail  In  way 
V  ay  ot"  Albany  arrives  of  Hartford  called  the  upper 
at  4  o'clock  I'.  M.;  he  road,  is  irregular  in  his  ..rriv- 
is  very  regular.  als   for  reasons  afsign'd    in 

this  Journal  underthe  Boston 
head,  but  in  common  he  ar- 
rives between  5  in  the  even- 
ing aii.i  10  at  night. 

The  .Mbain  Post  which 
carrys  the  C'im.idian  .Mails  is 
sent  of  at  1 1  A.  M.  A  niaii 
arrives  from  I'hiladclphia  at 
10  and  the  Post  returns  at 
12.  I'he  I'acket  Mail  is 
maileup  and  liispalJieil  from 
this  office  the  first  Wednes 
day  of  every  month  at  1  z 
o'clock  at  night. 


THl  Rsi)A^  . 

The  i'ost  for  Hosfon 
by  \ew   Haven,  }lart 
ford    and     Springfield, 
called  the  upper  ra-.id  is 
sent  off  at  noon. 


n<ii>  ^^ . 
The  Post  from  Phil 


-  X  I  1   HI)A\-, 


A  Post  from  Boston  b\  the 

arrives  at  1  1  o'clock  A      lower  road  arrives  Ihivv,  en  5 

M.  and  returns  at  one    ami   10  at  night,  sometimes 

"'■"^''-  it  is  -Siuulay,  for  reasons  af 

sign'd  underthe  Boston  head. 


K 


f-^^m^, 


BY  Hugh  Kinlav. 


49 


Mr  Antill  wishes  that  the  letters  sent  from  Kngland  by  the  Packet  cou'd 
be  sorted  in  I.oiuion,  each  city  its  different  bundle  viz.  N.  York,  Phil»  , 
Boston,  yuelK-.  Montreal,  &c. ;  his  reason  for  mentioning  this  wish  is, 
that  it  often  Joes  happen  that  there  is  not  time  to  afsort  them  before  the 
departure;  of  the  c::r.rent  riders  or  at  least  of  some  of  them,  bv  which 
means  they  lie  in  the  office  untill  next  post  day  which  makes  eight  days 
difference  to  Canada  for  instance  when  the  Packets  arrive  on  Wednesday 
forenoon. 

He  further  says,  that  instead  of  charging  this  office  (which  tho'  called 
the  Gen.ral  Office,  is  to  ail  intents  and  purposes  managed  and  conducted 
as  are  i!  the  other  offices,  and  in  like  manner,  accountable  once  in  every 
iiuarter  to  the  Comptroller)  with  the  letters  from  Kngiand,  the  Comptroller 
shou'd  be  made  accountable  tor  them,  and  he  shou'd  charge  each  office  with 
the  l-'.nglish  bills. 

I  remark  that  there's  .i  column  in  every  dcputys  accounts  for  mifsent 
.-md  forwarded  letters.  Mr  Antill  can  easily  take  credit  for  all  the  letters 
charged  to  his  office,  which  h<  forwards  to  other  offices  as  heretofore. 

29th.— The  Odober  packet  boat,  Duke  of  Cumberland,  Capt.  Mitchell 
arriv'd  at  Nev  York.  Thtiicame  no  Instru«ions  for  a  Surveyor;  there- 
fore Mr  I'OxcroCt  coiuiu.lfd,  that  it  would  be  best  for  me  to  proceed  im- 
mediately to  Charles  Town  in  .South  Carolina,  there  to  take  orders  and 
dirertions  from  Mr.  Kmipell  the  Dcp.  (i.ii.  for  the  Southern  district  and 
to  make  my  Survey  there  beginning  at  the  Southern  extremity,  and  so 
proceed  regularly  Northward,  as  perhaps  by  the  time  i  reach  Suffolk  in 
Virginia,  the  most  southern  Post  Town  in  the  norfJwrn  district,  Instrud 
ions  iiKiy  arrive  from   !•  ngland  wherebv  Mr  Ki»x.  r<»fr  will  he  enabled  to 


5° 


Joi'RNAI.    KEPT 


give  me  more  ample  and  clear  direetions  than  he  can  at  present  do  and  he 
will  have  them  waiting  my  arrival  at  Suffolk. 

This  arrangement  being  made,  it  only  remains  to  write  to  Kngland  by 
the  Packet  which  will  sail  on  Thursday  the  :d  of  Deer.,  advising  the  I'ost 
Master  General  of  my  intended  route  which   Mr  Koxcroft  designs  to  do. 

6th  December.— 1  left  New  York  in  company  with  Mr  Koxcroft  for 
Philadelphia  referring  the  survey  of  the  offices  this  wav  until  my  return 
from  Carolina. 

8th.— Got  to  Philadelphia.  Just  look'd  superficially  over  matters  i  i 
the  otf.ce  there,  the  books  were  neat  clean  and  in  proper  form  and  ord<  r, 
every  thing  in  and  about  the  office  had  the  air  of  regularity  and  care. 

9th.— At  four  o'clock  afternoon  I  embark'd  in  a  vessel  bound  to  Chrries 
Town  in  South  Carolina  where  I  arriv'd  the  14th  at  noon;  the  distance 
run  is  750  m.les  ;  we  had  fair  winds  and  weather  remarkable  fine  and  warm. 


1 


BY  Hugh  Finlay. 


SI 


SOUTHERN    DISTRICT. 


CHARLES   TOirN  IN  SO:    CAROLINA. 


December  the  14th  177J. — Immediately  on  my  arrival  I  went  to  Mr 
Roupell's  house,  he  was  not  at  home,  I  left  Mr  Foxcrofts  letter  of  intro- 
durtion  at  his  house,  and  afterwards  vent  to  the  Post-Office,  which  is  kept 
by  the  Secretary  in  a  room  in  the  most  frequented  coffee  house  in  the  most 
publick  part  of  the  Town  ;  there  I  left  my  name,  my  businefs  and  a  direc- 
tion to  my  lodging  in  case  Mr  Roupell  should  have  immediate  commands 
for  me. 

15th. — Waited  on  Mr  Roupell  in  the  morning  to  inform  him  that  I  was 
ready  to  receive  and  obey  his  orders. 


From  the  1 5th  December  to  the  ist  January  following  at  times  employed 
in  examining  into  former  transactions  in  this  Ciencral  Office,  previous  to 
Mr.  Roupells  appointment,  and  found  the  Books,  accounts,  papers  and 
every  thing  relative  to  the  former  management  in  the  greatest  confusion, 
so  as  to  render  it  impofsibic  from  them,  to  learn  the  true  state  of  the  offices 
in  this  district. 

I  found  that  Mr  Roupell  had  been  at  a  great  deal  of  pains  to  gather 
knowledge  of  matters  in  his  Distrirt;  he  gave  me  all  lights  that  he  had 
been  able  to  colleCl,  and  nothing  further  with  respiCt  to  thi;  debts  due  by 


S3 


Journal  kfpt 


the  ditfereiu  dcputys  couki  be  known,  until  things  were  compareii  with  his 
sketch,  at  the  difFercnt  offices. 

We  plan'd  new  regulations  and  proposed  ]iroper  t'ornis  which  perhaps 
may  be  necelsarv  hereafter  to  follow  ;  and  thus  having  settled  matters 
with  Mr  Roupell  I  left  Charles  Town  (after  receiving  written  directions, 
on  the  1st  of  January,  accompanied  by  the  contrader  for  the  riding  north 
to  Wilmington,  a  ride  of  180  miles;  Mr  Roupell  reported  him  to  be  a 
careful  diligent  i.ian;  we  therefor  concluded  that  it  woulii  be  for  the  good 
of  the  ser\ice  to  hire  him  as  a  guitle,  that  we  might  be  able  to  judge  ot  his 
ability  to  undertake  the  ride  between  Charles  Town  and  Savannah,  and 
both  partys  having  examined  the  road,  a  contrail  might  immediately  be 
enter'd  into  on  such  reasonable  terms  as  the  nature  of  tlu-  route  wou'd 
admit. 

We  left  the  Town  'm  the  morninij.  1  was  in  a  Solo  chair.  Wills  the 
guide  was  on  horseback,  leading  a  horse  to  relieve  the  chair  horse,  for  in 
this  country  no  single  horse  that  one  can  hire  is  able  to  perform  such  a 
Journey.      In  this  Province  Travelling  is  most  extravagantly  expensive. 

I'Vom  Charles  'I'own  to  Ashley  ferry  is  10  miles  in  a  wry  ievel  roail, 
hut  wc  wade  thro'  a  deep  heavy  sand  very  fatiguing  to  horses;  this  ferrv 
is  well  attended  ;  their  flats  or  skows  as  they  are  called,  are  good,  and  drawn 
over  the  river  aliouf  jo  yanis  wide,  by  a  rope.  The  weather  was  very 
warm,  we  chang'  1  our  horses  and  proceedeil  six  miles  to  Rantoal  bridge, 
the  roads  still  sandy  and  heavy  tho'  not  so  deep  ;  here  and  there  we  got  a 
peep  of  a  plantation  thro'  the  dull  pine  trees  that  shade  the  ri  -d.  In  the 
cleared  places  the  surface  is  scantily  cover'd  wi'h  rank  ruAct  v  .eds.  We 
see  no  verdant  fields  as  to  the  Northivard,  nothing  but  I'ine,  Sand,  and 


Bv  Hugh  Finlay. 


S3 


Swamp,  the  branches  of  the  trees  are  over  hung  with  grey  thready  moss 
rescmliling  the  shaggy  hair  of  a  he  goat. 

Out  of  the  horses  gave  out  here ;  we  proceeded  after  dinner  with  the 
first  horse  i8  miles  in  a  road  not  so  heavy  as  that  we  have  pafsed;  this 
horse  also  requir'd  a  constant  whip,  it  wou'd  require  four  such  beasts  to 
make  common  speed  on  this  road — the  horses  of  this  country  are  starv'd, 
weak,  lean,  small  brutes.  There's  hardly  a  pofsibility  of  getting  forward 
without  one's  own  horses,  but  on  these  roads  they  run  a  risk  of  being  starved, 
for  there's  nothing  to  be  had,  but  the  leaves  of  Indian  corn  dried  instead 
ot  hay,  and  in  lieu  of  oats  they  give  them  Indian  corn  which  founders  a 
Northward  horse.  It  is  a  shocking  country  to  travel  in,  both  for  man  and 
beast.  .Slept  at  Fonpon,  a  small  village  34  miles  from  Charles  Town; 
there's  a  tollerable  Tavern  here. 

-d. —  Proceeded  7  miles  to  Acheepoo  bridge  over  a  small  River,  16  miles 
farther  we  halted  to  dine;  the  road  is  good,  in  a  streight  line  cut  thro' 
pine  woods,  now  and  then  we  see  a  swamp,  consequently  a  rice  plantation 
these  situations  are  very  unhealthy  ;  we  came  sometimes  to  avenues  leading 
from  the  high  road  terminated  by  farm  houses  at  a  quarter,  half  and  some- 
times three  quarters  of  a  mile  distant.  After  dinner  we  rode  on,  but  at 
the  end  of  four  miles  our  horses  were  so  tired,  that  we  were  obliged  to  re- 
main here,  the  place  is  called  I'ocotalago  ;  it  rained  all  day  ;  thick  stinking 
fogs  hung  o'er  every  swamp.  We  could  not  find  a  horse  here  to  hire,  or 
for  sale. 


;jd. —  Next    morning   proceeded    5    miles   to   Coosawhatchay    river  over 
which  was  once  a  bridge  which  is  now  broken  down  ;  they  keep  a  very  bad 


Jol'RNAl.    KEI'T 

Skew  here,  very  ill  attended ;   frun,  hence  we  went  on  nine  miles  to  a  poor 
hut  without  windows  eallui  a  Tavern,  and  could  go  no  tarther.  our  horses 

beinK  quite  knocked  up.  •  .     .1,     • 

-I-l-  weather  was  rainy,  raw  and  dull,  the  road  was  good  and  stre.ght  thro 

pine  barren,  gloonu-  and  unpleasingly  unih.rn,.     The  promise  c,,  extrava^ 

gant  pavHK-nt  cou'd  not  procure  a  horse  for  hire;   1  was  obl.ged  to  buy  a 

small  creature,  the  best  of  half  a  do/en  for  £5  Str. 

We  put  up  at  this  miserable  hut  and  there  remainM  untd  next  day,  that 

we  set  out  early  in  the  morning  very  dark  and  in  heavy  rauu 

.,,_NVith  mv  new  purchase  in  the  chair,  and  leading  the  fatigued  horse 
wc  rode  .(,  miles  to  I'urvsburg.  wet  to  the  skin,  the  rain  had  soak  d  thro 
„u-  portmanteau.  The  ro..d  .s  very  stre.ght.  son.e  parts  of  U  .s  clayey, 
but  few  farms  in  the  way. 

Purvsburg  is  a  strat-Ung  village  on  the  River  of  Savannah  about  .58  n„les 
from  its  n^outh,  it  wis  orginally  settled  by  French  protestants.  they  nuke 
silk  here  but  in  verv  small  quantitys. 

We  renK.in'd  here  three  hours  to  dry  ..urselves.  ana  then  en>bark  d  .n  a 
wooden  canoe  rowed  bv  three  Negroes,  and  in  about  four  hours  and  a  halt 
.ot  down  with  the  tide  to  Savannah,  the  distance  is  24  m.lc.  The  water 
of  the  river  is  verv  thick,  its  shore  is  a  stinking  m«tf;  the  land  on  each 
side  is  low  and  swan,py.  Halfway  down  we  see  plantations,  the  farm  houses 
are  built  on  the  rivers  side  on  hills  of  sand  called  bluffs,  some  are  budt  n, 
low  situations,  and  are  surrounded  when  the  River  overflows.  1  he  tuie 
f1,,ws  within  (\  miles  of  I'urvslnirg. 

1  sent  Mr  Roupelis  letter  immediately  to  Mr   Thomson  the  Deputy; 
he  waited  on  me,  and  we  chatted  on  office  businefs. 


I 


I 


BY  Hugh  Finlay. 


55 


He  declines  keeping  the  office  any  longer  in  his  own  name,  but  he  will 
superintend  it,  and  find  a  person  qualified  to  take  charge  of  it,  and  he 
wishes  for  the  interest  of  the  office  to  preserve  an  authority  over  him. 

Mr  Thomson  reports  that  many  people  of  whom  better  things  might  be 
expeded,  rather  than  send  their  letters  in  the  Mail,  will  send  for  the  rider 
and  make  a  private  bargain  with  him  to  carry  their  dispatches;  the  riders 
are  but  too  apt  to  secret  letters  for  their  own  emolument. 

One  Mackenfufs  rides  between  Charles  Town  and  St.  Augustine  in  East 
Florida;  after  the  arrival  of  the  Packet  boats  in  Charles  Town,  he  sets  out 
with  the  Mail  for  Savannah,  Sunbury  and  St.  Augustine  and  returns. 
This  trip  he  takes  twelve  times  in  the  year.  On  one  of  those  trips  he  fell 
sick  and  employed  a  man  to  ride  for  him,  this  man  came  to  office  drunk, 
he  delivcr'd  about  50  loose  letters  to  Mr  Thomson.  Next  day  he  return'd 
to  the  office  and  demanded  the  letters  as  his  own  perquisite,  saying  that  it 
had  been  the  former  praftice  and  that  he  had  been  instruded  to  follow  it. 
Thus  was  Makenfufs  charg'd  with  an  unwarrantable  praftice,  but  when  he 
was  question'd  on  this  matter  he  denied  that  he  had  ever  taken  any  money 
in  this  way. 

This  points  out  the  necefsity  of  obliging  the  riders  and  their  servants  to 
take  thf  oaths  and  to  give  bond,  and  to  furnish  them  with  printed  abstracts 
from  the  ads  touching  their  duty. 

The  Cientlemen  in  Sunbury  have  often  earnestly  applied  for  a  Post  be- 
tween their  Town  and  Savannah,  Sunbury  is  a  thriving  place,  Trade  en- 
creases  there  rapidly ;  they  labour  under  many  disadvantages  for  want  of 
a  speedy  way  of  conveying  letters  to  and  from  their  Town. 

It  is  thought  that  if  there  was  a  weekly  post  establish'-!  between  Charles 
Town  and  Savannah  the  Postages  wou'd  far  exceed  the  cxpence  of  the  rid- 
ing work. 


|i< 


Ii?    I 


56 


Journal  kept 


By  vefsels  from  diftcrent  parts  of  England  to  Charles  Town,  many  let- 
ters are  scut  for  people  in  Savannah,  Simberry  and  St.  Augustine,  these  go 
to  the  care  of  sonic  persons  in  Charles  Town,  who  forward  them  by  the 
first  coaster  oifcring;  no  man  in  these  parts  wou'd  think  of  forwarding  a 
letter  by  water  if  there  was  an  opportunity  by  land. 

Now  if  a  weekly  post  were  here  established,  it  wou'd  be  proper  to  ad- 
vertise it  in  the  London  Papers  for  sometime,  and  in  the  Carolina,  Georgia 
and  Florida  coffee  houses,  to  make  the  publick  and  especiallv  the  London 
Merchants  trading  to  these  parts  acquainted  with  the  dispatch  with  which 
their  letters  can  be  conveyei.1  from  Charles   Town  to  all  parts  Southward. 

It  may  be  here  observed.  That  the  present  aft  obliging  \Lasters  of 
Vefsels  to  carry  their  letters  to  the  Post  office  is  of  no  effeft  in  America, 
they  have  no  inclination  to  pay  obedience  to  any  revenue  atl,  and  at  pres- 
ent they  say  that  if  they  are  obliged  to  put  letters  into  the  Post  office  they 
must  pay  for  th.em  before  they  can  get  them  out  ayain,  anti  this  is  one 
mode  ot  taking  money  t'rom  them  without  their  consent,  therefor  they  will 
pay  as  little  regard  to  that  law  as  is  pofsible  to  be  done,  and  it  can  easily 
be  evaded,  since  the  Master  has  only  to  say  :  )-.very  letter  that  1  have  on 
board  concerns  my  cargo,  and  therefore  I  shall  not  deliver  one  of  them  at 
the  Post  office. 

h  the  \Listcr  of  every  vefsci  were  obliged  immediately  on  his  arrival  to 
go  to  the  Post  office  and  there  make  o.ith,— "  Ihat  the  letters  now  deliver'd 
"are  all  the  letters,  which  came  in  his  vefsel,  whether  committed  to  his 
"care  or  the  cire  of  any  person  on  board,  to  the  best  of  his  belief  and 
"  knowledge,  excepting  such  as  he  knows  to  concern  the  cargo,"— the 
Re\enue  would  encrease  ama/ingly. 


Bv  Hugh  Finlay. 


57 


It  is  further  to  be  observed  that  very  few  colledlors  observe  to  require 
the  Post  Master's  certificate  ere  he  admit  the  vefsel  to  an  entry. 

If  the  present  adl  cannot  be  amended  a  stridl  order  from  the  Treasury 
to  the  Commifsionvrs  of  the  Customs  in  Americ?  to  ifsue  their  commands 
to  all  Colleftors  for  this  purpose,  will  be  of  service. 

To  return  to  the  Sunbury  people  they  propose  to  raise  money  by  sub- 
scription towards  paying  a  rider  between  that  place  and  Savannah,  indeed 
13  Gentlemen  have  already  subscribed  £20  Str.  for  this  purpose. 


The  5th  went  with  Mr  Thomson  to  the  Post-Office  where  I  found  every 
thing  in  the  best  order,  he  is  an  excellent  officer  and  has  the  encrease  of 
the  Revenue  at  heart. 

Vl'e  whole  amount  of  the  postage  received  at  his  Office  is  £  75  Str.  conse- 
quently at  20  ^  ct.  his  salary  will  amount  to  jiif. 

Nota. — There's  no  inland  postage  charged  by  Mr  Thomson  on  the  let- 
ters which  he  receives  here  to  go  by  the  Packet  from  Charles  Town  to 
Kalmouth  and  by  the  Post  Master's  bill  I  perceived  that  there  never  has 
been  any  inland  postage  charg'd  from  Charles  Town  to  this  place ;  and  I 
am  apt  to  thin'ic  that  none  has  ever  been  charged  to  and  from  St.  Augustine. 
On  my  return  to  Charles  Town  this  matter  shall  be  enquir'd  into. 

The  late  Mr  Stevens  Sec'y  to  Mr  Delancy  sent  a  form  to  Mr  Thomson 
by  which  to  keep  his  accounts ;  by  it  he  was  directed  to  take  a  commifsion 
on  all  letters  pafsing  through  his  office,  he  perceived  that  it  was  an  error, 
and  therefor  never  charged  commifsion  excepting  on  the  moneys  received 
by  him  for  Postage. 

Mr  Thomson  is  colledor  of  the  Port  of  Savannah,  and  obliges  all  Cap- 
tains to  bring  their  letters  to  him  before  he  will  admit  them  to  an  entry, 


'^ 

i 
i 

S8 


Journal  kept 


hut  he  complains  that  under  the  pretence  of  letters  helonging  to  tlie  cargo, 
not  one  half  is  ever  deliver'd  at  the  office. 

Waited  on  Governor  Wright.  His  Excellency  urges  the  necefsity  of  a 
Post  between  this  place  and  Charles  Town  ;  he  is  persuaded  that  it  will 
encrease  the  Revenue,  and  he  promises  to  do  every  thing  in  his  power  to 
promote  its  intrests. 

Demanded  a  settlement  of  Dr  Fraser's  accounts ;  he  was  a  deputy  in  Mr 
Delancv's  time,  but  as  I  before  observed  the  Books  of  the  General  Office, 
were  not  kept  regularly,  and  his  debt  cou'd  not  be  ascertained  from  them. 

He  says  he  cannot  settle  with  me  because  his  children  and  negroes  in  his 
absence  from  home  got  into  his  office  and  destroy'd  his  Papers,  but  as  soon 
as  Mr  Roupell  will  send  him  an  account  of  the  debt,  he  will  pay  it.  He 
believes  it  is  about  Xi-j  Str.  this  he  said  before  me  and  in  presence  of  Mr 
Thompson. 

The  Kings  Attorney  was  in  the  Country  but  Mr  Thompson  will  wait 
on  him  at  his  return  and  demand  the  sum  recovered  by  him  from  one 
Whitefield,  a  former  D.  Post  Mr,  and  when  he  receives  it  he  will  remit  it 
to  Mr  Roupell. 

1  saw  many  of  the  principal  people  in  Town  ;  thev  all  prefs  hard  to  have 
a  weekly  post  established  between  this  place  and  Charles  Town.  They 
say,  that  from  their  Commercial  connexions  they  are  fullv  persuaiied  that 
there  will  pafs  more  letters  between  the  two  places  than  will  pav  the  ex- 
pence  of  riding.  Whenever  a  regular  and  speedy  convevance  by  land  is 
established  correspondence  will  much  encrease. 

As  the  Post  from  the  Northward  arrives  at  Charles  Town  on  Saturday 
evening,  the  route  and  the  Post  days  may  be  as  follows,  then  Sunbury  will 
be  included. 


1 


Bv  Hugh  Finlay. 


59 


Let  the  mail  for  Savannah  be  made  up  at  the  General  Post-office  on 
Saturday  night  and  leave  Charles  Town  on  Sunday  at  day  break,  and 
arrive  at  Savannah  on  Tuesday,  and  from  thence  let  the  Post  for  Sunbury 
set  out  an  hour  after,  and  arrive  there  on  the  next  morning,  Wednesday. 
Let  him  remain  there  but  a  few  hours  and  return  and  be  in  Savannah  on 
Thursday  morning;  The  Mail  for  Charles  Town  may  be  dispatched  at 
midday,  and  arrive  there  on  Saturday. 

I'he  present  expence  of  a  monthly  rider. 


Mackenfufs  has  £\6'f  Trip  from  Charles  Town  to  St. 
Augustine  via  Savannah;  say  that  he  makes  12 
Journeys  in  the  year,  it  will  cost 

A  rider  from  Charles  Town  to  Savan- 
nah to  ride  once  a  week  may  cost 

From  Savannah  to  Sunbury 

The  letters  for  St.  Augustine,  will  be  ' 
forwarded  by  exprefs  from   Sun- 
bury and  may  perhaps  cost  X.'i  "f* 
Trip.     Say  12  trips  in  a  year 


-      £lq2 


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40 

96 


2j6 


Encrease  of  Expense       -     £44 
to  establish  a  weekly  Post  which  will  do  more  than  pay  the  expense  im- 
mediately. 


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i 


6o 


Journal  kept 


6th.— After  a  conversation  with  Mr  Thompson  on  office  affairs,  I  took 
my  leave  and  went  with  the  tide  up  to  Purysburg  where  my  horses  were  left. 

Bouche,  who  iceeps  Tavern  here  wou'd  be  a  proper  person  to  take  charge 
of  an  office  in  this  place  if  it  shall  be  fouad  necefsary  to  have  a  house  of 
receipt  and  delivery  in  Purysburg. 

Rode  1 6  miles  to  a  miserable  hut,  called  a  Tavern  and  there  put  up; 
the  roads  are  generally  deep  in  theii  .auseways  which  lead  through  swamps, 
after  .ain  ;  the  other  parts  of  the  roads  are  generally  good,  I  mean  between 
Charles  Town  and  Savannah,  except  near  the  capital  they  are  heavy  and 
srndy,  all  the  bridges  are  in  bad  repair.  A  strangtr  conceives  a  disadvan- 
tageous idea  of  the  internal  Police  of  this  rich  Province  from  the  ruinous 
state  of  these  publitk  matters. 

It  seems  that  the  present  difference  subsisting  between  the  Governor  and 
the  house  of  afsembly  has  put  a  stop  to  all  Publick  businefs.  The  house 
voted  and  aftually  did  remit  ,£1500  of  the  publick  money  for  the  use  of 
Mr  Wilkes  without  the  Governors  consent,  or  without  asking  leave,  until 
this  money  is  repaid  back  to  th.-  Treasury,  the  Gov'r  will  pafs  no  Law. 
Thus  all  publick  order  is  at  a  stand. 

■7th. — Set  off  early  in  the  morning,  and  rode  9  miles  to  the  ferry  ot 
Coosawhatchay,  there  we  found  the  Skow  aground,  we  were  obliged  to 
hire  four  negroes  to  floa*'  it. 

Vhe  country  back  of  Pocotolago  is  pretty  well  settled  'tis  said,  one 
Vanbibbcr  lives  here  on  the  side  of  the  road,  he  keeps  Tavern,  his  house 
wou'd  be  a  proper  place  for  the  rider  to  leave  letters  at,  ana  to  take  up 
letters  there  left  to  be  forwarded. 


VI 


'1 


11 


BY  Hugh  Finlav. 


6i 


Proceeded  19,  some  say  22,  miles;  the  road  is  clayey  in  some  parts, 
and  always  muddy  after  rain,  from  Acheepoo  we  -ode  7  miles  to  Ponpon, 
where  I  spoke  with  Mr  McKenzie  one  of  the  principal  merchants  in  this 
village,  his  opinion  is  that  but  few  letters  wou'd  pafs  by  post  to  or  from 
this  place  as  there's  dayly  oportunities  for  Town  ;  yet  in  case  it  may  be 
found  proper  to  have  an  office  here,  he  would  recommend  a  Mr  Wallace 
or  a  Mr  Herbertson  to  take  charge  of  it. 

8th.-  -Left  Ponpon  in  snow,  hail,  sleet  and  rain  alternately,  excefsively 
cold,  to  Ashl:y  ferry,  24  miles  and  from  the  ferry  to  town  10  miles,  where 
I  arrived  in  the  evening. 

I  observe  that  there's  many  crofsroads  in  the  way  between  Charles  Town 
and  Savannah  and  no  dirc^ions  set  up  to  guide  a  sttanger,  it  is  impofsi- 
ble  that  he  should  keep  the  road  he  wishes  to  follow. 

The  road  on  the  whole  may  be  called  good,  it  is  heavy  in  some  parts, 
the  bridges  arc  in  bad  repair,  there's  three  ferry's  in  the  way,  -Ashley,  Coo- 
sawhatchay  and  the  Savannah  River. 

9th,  10th,  nth.— Reniain'd  in  Charles  Town  consulting  with  Mr 
Roupell,  and  prepaiii.g  for  the  Survey  of  the  offices  to  the  Northward. 

1 2th. — Received  my  despatches  from  Mr  Roupell  in  the  afternoon, 
found  the  boat  which  was  to  carry  me  o\  cr  or  rather  up  Coupar  River 
was  aground,  so  that  I  was  dctaMi'd  until!  morning. 

13th. — Mr  Wills  th.;  Contrador  for  this  ride  to  Wilmington  agreed  to 
accompany  me,  that  we  might  view  the  road  and  learn  his  riders  condurt, 
and  common  mode  of  proceeding. 


i 


62 


Journal  kept 


We  proceeded  to  Hobcau  4  n.iles  in  a  boat,  and  on  horseback  17  miles 
before  dinner,  and  zjJ  after  dinner  to  Santee  ferry — the  road  very  good, 
but  sandy  in  a  few  places.     The  taverns  are  inconceivably  bad. 

To  travel  with  comfort  through  this  part  of  the  world,  a  stranger  shou'd 
be  furnished  with  letters  of  recommendation  to  the  Gentlemen  and  Plant- 
ers living  on  the  road,  but  to  a  man  who  has  businefs  to  mind  this  method 
of  travelling  wou'd  be  attended  with  inconvenience  for  the  hospitable 
Americans  kill  you  with  kindnefs,  and  detain  you  from  pursuing  your 
journey,  and  one  woul'd  be  obliged  sometimes  to  ride  6  or  8  miles  out  of 
the  road  to  get  to  the  gentlemen's  seat,  at  which  you  intend  to  lodge. 

14th. — Crofs'd  Santee  River  about  :oo  yards  broad  in  a  good  skow,  we 
found  a  most  shocking  bad  piece  of  road,  from  the  river's  side  a  mile  and 
a  quarter  through  a  swamp,  called  Lynch's  causeway.  It  is  a  tia<;t  of 
boggy  land,  the  road  thro'  it  is  made  of  logs  of  wood  laid  crossways,  and 
cover'd  over  with  the  mud  of  this  bog;  after  rain  it  is  a  mere  puddle. 
The  horses  sunk  between  the  logs  up  to  the  IkIH".  The  rider  with  great 
reason  complnins  much  of  this  causeway,  as  it  is  next  to  impafsable  some- 
times, and  in  the  best  of  weather  he  runs  a  risk  of  breaking  his  horses 
legs  and  his  own  neck. 

Nothing  can  be  done  in  a  publick  way  until  the  affair  of  the  grant  to 
Wilkes  is  settled. 

At  the  end  of  the  bad  causeway  there's  another  ferry  of  about  100  yards 
wide,  well  attcndeii.  1 1 }  miles  farther  is  Sampit  ferry  opposite  to  (ieorgc 
Town  very  ill  attended;  it  is  private  property.  The  rider  says  tha;:  he  is 
detain'd  here  six  hours  sometimes.  We  got  over  to  Cieorgc  Town  with  some 
difficulty.      This  is  a  thriving  place,  vefsels  drawing  ij  foot  w.iter  can  load 


Bv  Hugh  Finlay. 


63 


here.  The  Town  is  1 8  mile  from  the  sea,  its  trade  encreases  and  conse- 
quently its  correspondence.  There  has  been  no  deputy  here  since  Mr 
Tyghe  died  in  Oftober. 

I  examined  a  book  which  was  shown  me  as  the  only  book  he  had  ever 
kept,  but  there  was  nothing  in  it  but  a  few  memorandums  of  debts  due  by 
the  towns  people  for  postages— mere  triffles.  I  found  Post  Masters  bills 
from  Charles  Town  but  none  from  any  other  place.  The  debt  due  by 
him  must  be  colledted  from  the  books  at  Charles  Town  and  at  Wilming- 
ton. There's  no  check  for  way  letters  received  by  him.  Since  his  death 
the  mail  has  been  generally  dcliver'd  at  the  Tavern,  and  the  Tavern 
keeper  accounted  to  order  from  Charles  Town. 

The  people  in  town  two  months  ago  strongly  recommended  one  James 
Robertson  to  be  deputy,  to  whom  Mr  Roupell  sent  a  commifsion  and 
instruftions  by  me  ;  which  I  w.is  direded  to  leave  with  Dodlor  Gibb  to  be 
deliver'd  on  Robertson's  taking  the  oath  and  giving  bond. 

I  went  to  Robertsons  and  gave  him  some  direftions,  and  shew'd  him 
how  to  keep  his  accounts. 

There  never  has  yet  been  more  than  £^  ^  ann.  received  in  this  place, 
but  it  will  certainly  encrease. 

After  having  instructed  Mr  Robertson  and  deliver'd  the  first  mail  to 
him,  I  left  (Jeorge  Town  and  embark'd  with  our  horses  in  a  flat,  and 
went  down  the  River  Sampit  half  a  mile  to  its  mouth  where  Fedie,  Waco- 
man  and  Black  River  join  and  form  a  bay  2J  mile  acrofs.  When  the 
wind  blows  but  a  little  it  is  impafsable  for  flats,  and  there's  no  ferry  boat 
for  horses  kept  here,  at  this  ferry  the  Post  runs  many  risks,  and  he  is  often 
detain'd  by  winds.  When  we  got  to  the  other  side  the  sun  was  not  an 
hour  high,  and  we  had  14  miles  to  ride  thro'  the  wo  .ds  in  a  very  crooked 


64 


Journal  kept 


path.  We  lost  our  way  and  found  ourselves  on  the  sea  shore.  We  came  to 
an  indigo  plantation  where  there  was  nothing  for  our  horses ;  they  told  us 
that  we  were  three  miles  from  a  tavern  ;  they  gave  us  a  negroe  to  conduft 
us  in  the  dark,  when  we  got  there  w.  were  told  from  within  to  go  about 
our  businefs,  they  kept  no  publick  house,  nor  had  they  anything  for  our 
horses.  It  was  ten  o'clock,  quite  dark,  our  horses  were  fatigued,  we  were 
tir'd,  and  on  being  told  that  it  was  14  miles  to  the  next  house,  we  beg'd 
we  entreated  we  prayed  to  be  let  in.  At  Inst  the  door  was  open'd  by  an 
old,  infirm,  walking  skeleton,  there  was  no  soul  in  the  house  beside  but 
his  cripple  wife. 

The  old  man  was  prevail'd  on,  by  the  promise  of  an  exorbitant  price 
to  spare  us  some  corn  and  corn  blades  for  our  horses,  and  we  enclos'd 
them  in  a  field  of  sand. 

There  was  no  bread  in  the  house  and  nothing  but  bad  water  to  drink- 
he  had  no  bed— I  pafs'd  the  night  in  a  chair,  often  looking  out  for  day. 

15th.— Set  out  before  sunrise,  and  at  the  end  of  17  miles  saw  some 
plantations,  we  rode  thro'  heavy  white  sand,  the  road  runs  parallel  with 
Wacoman  River,  and  is  never  more  than  two  miles  distant  from  it.  On 
all  rivers  there's  a  stripe  of  swamp  pretty  well  settled  in  common,  but  the 
pine  woods  intercept  one's  view  and  lender  the  road  dreary  indeed. 

We  stop'd  at  a  farm  house  where  we  were  very  politely  receiv'd,  and 
they  gave  us  the  best  they  had.  They  made  their  cakes  of  Indian  moal 
and  roasted  them  before  the  fire.     Tliey  never  eat  wheaten  bread. 

We  proceeded  a  few  perches  to  the  sea  side,  here  we  found  it  half  ebb, 
a  firm  hard  beach,  it  is  called  Long  bay,  which  appears  not  to  be  a  bay  In.i 
a  streight  strand  of  14I  miles  in  length;   it  can  be  pafsed  only  at  ebbing 


Bv  Hugh  Finlav. 


65 


tide,  you  have  the  Atlantic  on  the  right,  and  great  hillocks  of  loose  sand 
on  the  left.  At  the  end  of  the  14!  mile  we  struck  of  to  the  left,  at  an 
inlet  to  the  sea,  which  at  high  water  makes  a  large  pond  behind  the  sand 
hills  ;  these  inlets  are  called  Swashes  in  these  countrys.  Leaving  the  beach 
we  ride  thro'  pine  woods  3  J  miles  to  the  first  house,  here  we  got  a  dinner 
by  way  of  favour  and  paid  well  for  it.  The  man  keeps  no  tavern,  but  he 
takes  money  for  his  victuals  and  toddy;  at  such  houses  a  parcel  of  ragged 
children  and  dirty  servants  are  set  down  at  table  with  every  traveller. 
Proceeded  7  miles  farther  and  were  well  receiv'd  by  an  hospitable  planter, 
and  with  him  we  remain'd  the  night. 


1 6th. — Left  our  hearty  Planter,  and  rode  4*  miles  thro'  heavy  sand  to 
a  house  called  the  Boundary  house,  because  the  line  dividing  South  from 
North  Carolina  runs  thro'  the  middle  of  it,  one  half  of  the  hall  is  in  one 
Province  and  the  other  half  in  another. 

From  this  house  we  continued  ourjoutney  in  a  road  thro'  a  pine  barren, 
the  stumps  of  trees  are  covered  with  rank  wither'd  grafs,  which  makes 
riding  danr^erous ;  Wills  at  the  end  of  14  miles  was  taken  with  a  fit  of 
fever  and  ague,  I  was  obliged  to  stop  for  him  at  a  log  hut  called  a  Tavern. 
In  a  few  hours  his  fit  went  off,  and  we  proceeded  8i  miles  to  Lockwood's 
folly,  and  remained  there  all  night. 

Half  a  mile  from  the  log  Tavern,  there's  a  swamp  without  any  cause- 
way, after  rain  it  is  very  dangerous,  the  rider  is  often  stop'd  here  ;  the 
road  is  bad  farther.  Thus  far  there  seems  that  no  care  is  taken  of  the 
roads  in  this  Province. 


66 


Journal  kept 


17th. — Good  road  5  miles  to  a  small  log  house;  near  it  there's  two  bad 
bridges,  and  a  little  farther  there's  a  very  bad  bridge  over  a  run  of  water, 
and  a  very  long  bad  causeway  after  it.  From  the  last  log  house  we  rode 
9  miles  and  then  the  road  turns  short  off  to  the  right  leading  direftly  to 
Brunswick.  We  proceeded  streight  forward  thro'  deep  sand  to  a  saw  mill 
7  miles  and  from  thence  to  a  Tavern  two  miles  from  Wilmington,  is  14 
miles  farther  in  a  deep  sandy  ro.-id,  without  a  single  hut,  and  we  met  but 
one  traveller  all  this  day.  From  this  Tavern  we  see  the  town  of  Wilming- 
ton at  the  end  of  an  avenue  cut  through  an  island,  two  miles  across  ;  this 
island  is  in  Cape  Fear  River,  and  lyes  in  the  manner  here  described  : 


The  island  is  a  swamp,  the  road  is  laid  with  logs  of  trees,  many  of  them 
are  decay 'd,  so  that  the  causeway  is  quite  broken  and  full  of  large  holes, 
in  many  places  'tis  with  difficulty  that  one  can  pafs  it  on  foot,  with  a  horse 
'tis  just  pofsible.  This  public  avenue  to  the  most  flourishing  town  in  the 
Province,  will  induce  a  stranger  to  believe,  that  the  people  in  this  country 
have  no  Laws,  such  is  the  report  concerning  North  Carolina.  This  bad 
swamji  detains  the  Post. 

I  pafsed  the  first  ferry  in  a  small  leaky  flat,  the  second  in  a  large  one 
but  very  wet. 


BY  Hugh  Finlay. 


67 


Went  to  the  Tavern,  and  while  I  sat  there,  the  Post  -ider  deliver'd  a 
parcel  of  newspapers  to  a  person  in  the  room,  demanding  as.  for  his 
trouble,  the  man  to  whom  it  was  deliver'd  open'd  it  and  took  a  letter  out 
of  it;  on  seeing  this  I  reprimanded  the  rider  in  presence  of  a  good  many, 
and  forbid  him  to  take  any  money  for  the  carriage  of  the  bundle — telling 
him  at  the  same  time  that  he  had  err'd  thro'  ignorance,  but  that  I  shou'd 
take  care  that  the  printer  shou'd  not  defraud  the  office  a  second  time,  for 
that  he  shou'd  never  be  permitted  again  to  send  a  newspaper  by  any  of 
His  Majestys  riders. 

Took  a  lodging  in  Wilmington,  Mr  Hooper  the  deputy  waited  on  me. 

On  the  whole,  the  road  from  Charles  Town  to  Wilmington  is  certainly 
the  most  tedious  and  disagreeable  of  any  on  the  Continent  of  North 
America,  it  is  through  a  poor,  sandy,  barren,  gloomy  country  without 
accomodations  for  travellers.  Death  is  painted  in  the  countenances  of 
those  you  meet,  that  indeed  happens  but  seldom  on  the  road.  Neither 
man  nor  beast  can  stand  a  long  journey  thro'  so  bad  a  country  where  there's 
much  fatigue  and  no  refreshment;  what  must  it  be  in  their  violent  heats, 
when  I  found  it  so  bad  in  the  month  of  January! 

When  the  Post  comes  to  be  well  regulated  there  must  be  at  least  four 
changes  of  h'irses  to  carry  on  things  with  the  necefsary  despatch  on  this 
road.  Riding  in  the  Southern  Provinces  must  always  be  attended  with 
much  more  expense  than  in  the  Northern.  The  difference  in  the  price  of 
horses  is  a  great  objcft,  and  then  provender  to  the  Southward  is  bad, 
scarce  and  dear,  and  the  unhealthinefs  of  the  climate,  soon  wears  out  the 
best  constitutions  when  exposed  to  the  sun  in  the  day,  and  the  night  dews. 


jKth. — Wrote  to  Mr  Roupell  and  inform'd  him  of  some  things  touch- 


.Ti 


It  I 


68 


Journal  kept 


.ng  Post  office  affairs,  and  recommending  Wills  (from  his  care  and  anxiety 
to  perform  his  contradV)  for  the  Southern  ride  to  Savannah.  Wrote  to 
Mr  Robertson  of  George  Town  with  further  direftions  concerning  his 
office.  ^ 

The  rider  between  this  place  and  Newbern  represented  to  me  this  day 
that  he  cannot  continue  in  the  service  unless  his  wages  are  augnKnted.  I 
told  h.m  that  I  should  give  him  an  answer  after  I  had  consulted  with  Mr 
Hooper  and  had  exaniin'd  the  road. 

.9th— Employ'd  in  reading  over  a  correspondence  between  Mr  Hooper 
and  Mr  Roupell  concerning  sundry  matters  to  be  settled  here  and  at 
JNewbern. 


.oth.-At  the  Post  office.      In  consequence  of  the  insight  obtain'd  fron, 

he  above  correspondence,  and  Mr  Hoopers  explanation  of  matters,  I  got 

a  perfed  knowledge  of  an  affair  that  is  to  be  settled  with   Mr  Davis  at 

Newbern  ;   he  contrafted  w.th  the  Post-office  to  forward  the  mails  between 

A.lm.ngto„and  Newbern;  he  gave  it  upon  the,.st  of  August,  ,7,, 
as  aPP-s  by  h.s  letter  to  Mr  Hooper  of  that  date,  after  which  time  I,; 
H.  d.d  aaual  y  enter  uuo  contrad  with  one  named  Shepherd,  who  has 
cont,nued  m  the  serv.ce  ever  since.  Davis  claims  payment  for  the  riding 
work  .n  consequence  of  his  agreement  with  Mr  Delancy,  altho'  he  ,2 
up  h.  ,-ontraa  .n  August.  ,;.,,and  has  not  employ'd  any  rider  sLe 
except  for  one  month.  '  ^ 

Mr   Davis  is  debtor    to  the  General   Post  office  for  the    monies    he 
reccved  durmg  the  t,n,e  he  aded  as  Deputy  at  Newbern  ;  he  never  trans! 


■•^smm 


IMi—i 


By  Hugh  Finlay. 


69 


niitted  any  account,  it  is  my  businefs  to  bring  him  to  a  settlement,  I  have 
for  that  end  desir'd  Mr  Hooper  the  deputy  here  to  give  me  an  extraft 
from  his  booics  of  all  the  letters  forwarded  by  him  to  the  office  at  New- 
bcrn,  during  the  time  Mr  Davis  aded. 

20th. — The  Rider  shou'd  come  through  Brunswick  in  his  way  from 
Charles  Town  to  this  place;  it  is  the  port  of  entry  for  this  town  15  miles 
nearer  the  sea.  It  will  make  the  way  longer,  but  being  a  trading  town, 
and  the  only  port  of  entry  for  all  places  on  Cape  Fear  River,  there  shou'd 
certainly  be  a  Post-office  there  were  it  only  to  receive  the  ship  letters  for 
Wilmington  and  the  places  adjacent. 

Many  letters  come  into  this  Port  for  Newbern,  Edenton  and  all  parts 
of  the  Province;  the  Masters  of  vefsels  throw  'em  perhaps  carelefsly  into 
a  Tavern,  there  being  no  Post  office  to  take  thei.i  in;  the  complaints 
against  this  praftice  are  loud  for  many  letters  are  thus  lost.  The  Merch- 
ants therefor  Pray  to  have  an  office  established  at  Brunswick,  that  all  ship 
letteis  may  be  put  on  shore  there  that  they  may  be  certain  of  receiving 
them. 

There  is  a  growing  place  a  hundred  miles  above  this  "^'own,  called  Crofs 
Creek;  there's  much  commercial  connexion  between  the  Merchants  here, 
and  those  settled  there,  they  therefor  wish  for  a  weeklv  Post  between  the 
Two  Towns  of  Wilmington  and  Crofs  Creek. 

It  is  impofsible  to  do  anything  to  Purpose  towards  establishing  a  regular 
Post  in  the  Southern  distridt,  on  an  advantageous  footing  to  the  Revenue, 
until  the  mails  are  conveyed  weekly  without  stops  or  delays  all  through 
Virginia,  and  so  South  along  thro"  North  Carolina  all  the  way  to  Charles 
Town. 

At  present  it  is  long  before  an  answer  can  be  had  between  Charles  Town 


-^11 


70 


Journal  kept 


and  New  York  (they  siy  it  requires  ten  weeks)  that  no  body  in  either  of 
these  two  places  thinks  of  writing  by  Post;  so  that  in  short  the  Post  in 
the  Southern  distrirt  is  of  no  benefit  to  Revenue  and  but  of  very  little  use 
to  the  Publick  in  its  present  state,  but  would  be  of  infinite  utility  if  it 
were  once  so  regulated  as  to  convey  letters  from  New  York  to  Charles 
Town  in  ,6,  .8  or  28  days.  This  may  be  done,  then  woul'd  answers  be 
had  m  five  or  six  weeks,  and  correspondence  by  Post  wou'd  be  preferred 
to  precarious  conveyances  by  water. 

I  found  that  it  is  a  confirmed  opinion  at  Charles  Town,  that  letters  sen 
by  I  ost  are  seldom  deli  ver'd  owing  to  some  mismanagement  at  the  Junction 

of  the  Northern  and  Southern  distriets  ;  but  it  is  not  publickly  known,  that 

there  s  a  Post  for  the  Northward  every  fortnight. 

Mr  Hooper  wrote  letters  to  Boston  and  sent  them  by  Post,  on  purpose 

to  see  .f  the  report  was  well  founded  ;  he  says  they  never  got  to  hand 
No  Post  office  plan  can  be  properly  carried  on  in  this  part  of  the  world 

without  men  versed  in  businefs  with  a  certain  share  of  the  esteem  of  the 

people  wdl  take  ,t  in  hand,  and  very  few  will  take  the  trouble  without  an 

equivalent  for  their  pains. 

Every  Deputy  shou'd  have  an  office,  for  when  tne  publick  sees  letters 
thrown  carelefsly  about  in  an  open  room  or  store,  for  every  comer  to  handle 
-t  IS  natural  to  conclude  and  it  is  accordingly  concluded  that  letters  are  not 
safe  under  a  deputy's  care.  When  I  spoke  to  the  deputy's  about  this  ir- 
regularity, t...,  one  and  all  said,  we  have  much  trouble  with  the  post  we 
cannot  set  apart  an  office,  we  receive  the  letters  into  our  houses  t'  oblige 
the  I  ubhck,  and  as  for  the  C.mmifsion  it  is  such  a  trifle  it  is  not  worfh 
accepting,  we  cannot  negled  our  affairs  to  give  more  attention   to  this 


V0 


BY  Hugh  Finlay. 


7> 


matter.     The  publick  good  is  the  sole  inducement  for  taking  so  much 
trouble  as  we  do. 

I  think  that  if  a  small  allowance  were  made  io  each  deputy  in  this  distrift, 
proportion'd  to  his  Trouble,  that  it  wou'd  be  for  the  benefit  of  the  Revenue. 
I  would  allow  from  £<■  to  £20  Str.  %»  ann.  to  the  Deputys  and  oblige  them 
to  have  a  place  in  their  houses  or  stores,  set  apart  as  an  office,  to  which  no 
person  shou'd  have  accefs  but  such  as  may  have  taken  the  oaths  of  a  Post 
officer. 

I  would  have  a  weekly  Post  from  Town  to  Town  and  as  soon  as  a  regular 
and  speedy  conveyance  is  properly  fix'd  from  New  York  to  Charles  Town, 
I  wou'd  advertise  it  in  England,  in  all  the  Coffee  houses  and  Publick 
places  in  every  Trading  city  and  Town,  and  in  all  the  newspapers  in  Britain 
during  many  months  ;  likewise  in  the  newspapers.  Almanacks  and  Registers 
published  'n  America. 

By  this  means  it  woul'd  be  found,  that,  every  year  after  the  first  or 
second,  there  will  be  an  amazing  encrcase  of  the  Revenue. 

After  three  or  four  years,  the  mode  of  paying  deputys  may  be  altered, 
if  necefsary. 

Frequent  application  has  been  made  to  Mr  Hooper  for  a  weekly  Post, 
between  this  place  and  Newbern  ;  he  thinks  that  it  wou'd  defray  its  own 
expence. 

21st. — At  the  office  with  Mr  H(^oper;  it  appears  that  he  has  taken 
much  pains  to  keep  up  the  riding  work,  and  to  instruft  other  deputys. 
His  books  are  in  a  form  given  him  by  the  late  Mr  Delancey.  I  do  not 
approve  of  it.  They  shou'd  adopt  the  Northward  form  in  evi  ,  aiing, 
except  in  entering  the  letters  in  4  columns,  Sing:   Doub;  Tr:   Pack't  and 


i 


if* 


72 


Journal  kei-t 


pennyweights,  instead  of  which  say  so  many  It  ters  (reducing  them  all  to 
singles)  at  so  much  "(J  amounting  to  so  many  shillings  Str. 

The  Southern  rider  is  irregular;  his  stage  is  too  long;  he  shou'd  arrive 
on  Sunday  evening  and  return  towards  Charles  'lown  on  Monday.  Kvery 
thing  is  neat  and  in  order  with  Mr.  Hooper,  who  seems  to  be  a  (i-.-ntleman 
in  every  sense  of  the  vord;  he  is  a  great  acquisition  to  the  office  in  this 
part  of  the  world.  The  Northern  rider  is  punrtual,  but  he  will  not  take 
the  oath  nor  will  he  give  bond.  The  reason  is  obvious  ho  makes  some- 
thing by  way  letters;  no  person  can  be  fo.ind  in  this  place  or  at  Ncwbcrn 
except  the  present  rider,  for  that  reason  1  dare  not  p.efs  him,  else  the  rid- 
ing v\ork  would  stop,  o.-  we  should  be  obligd  to  pay  perhaps  triple  the 
sum  to  another;  on  his  return  from  Newbern,  I  will  do  my  endeavour  to 
renew  the  contrad  with  him,  and  if  p-jfsible,  engage  him  to  take  the  oath 
and  give  bond.      It  is  exceeding  difficult  to  find  riders  in  North  Carolina. 

Mr  Ilooperdeliver'd  to  me  a  great  parcel  of  I'ost-office  accounts  rendered 
by  Mr  Hewis  D-puty  at  Fdenton,  to  be  reeiify'd  and  settled  by  me,  with 
him. 

Mr  Hewis  is  a  man  of  the  best  charadler,  «  Cu-ntleniun  of  merit  (as  is 
said)  who  has  taken  charge  of  the  Pos'  office  solely  to  stTve  the  I'ublick  ; 
as  I  an.  informed  the  trouble  at  his  office  is  great  for  all  the  letters  for  any 
office  to  the  Southward  of  Virginia  are  sent  to  Suffolk,  the  last  office  in 
the  Northern  district,  and  from  thence  they  are  sent  in  one  parcel  unafsorted 
to  Edenton,  the  most  Northerly  dffice  in  the  Southern  District,  and  Mr 
Hewis  is  obliged  to  sort  them,  and  make  them  up  in  diffi;rent  mails. 

By  a  very  erroneous  form  which  the  former  Secretary  Mr  John  Stevens 
sent  to  all  the  Deputys  as  a  rule  to  walk  by,  he  has  been  led  to  charge 
commifsion  on  the  amount  of  all  letters  pafsing  through  his  hands  as  well 


BY  Hugh  Finlay. 


73 


those  he  forwai  :1s  to  other  offices,  as  those  in  his  own  delivery.  I  will  shew 
him  that  this  is  uncustomary  and  was  never  charged;  nor  allow'd  to  any 
deputy. 

I  am  aware  that  he  may  pl'.-ad  that  he  was  diredled  so  to  do,  but  as  he 
is  a  gentlemen  I  hope  to  settle  the  matter  easily. 

Mr  Hooper  pays  th.-  Northern  rider,  Henry  Shepherd,  £6^  Proc.  "^ 
ann.,  equal  to  £56.11.]  Str.,  the  distance  is  gj  miles,  this  he  perform^ 
once  in  14  days,  from  one  place  to  the  other  and  back  again. 

On  the  22d. — Took  an  account  of  the  letters  sent  to  Newbern  and  10 
George  Town  from  this  office,  to  enable  me  to  ascertain  Davis's  and  Dr. 
Tyghe's  debts  to  the  General  Post-office. 

a,]d. — Sunday. 


24th  and  25th. — In  company  hear'd  it  regreted  that  there  was  no  safety 
in  sending  any  thing  to  the  Northward,  by  Post,  to  the  great  inconveniency 
of  the  people  in  trade  in  those  parts. 

Mr  Hogg,  one  of  the  principal  merchants  in  this  place  remitted  the  first 
and  second  of  a  set  of  bills  of  I'^xciiange  by  Post  to  Philadelphia;  they 
never  got  to  hand,  a  coaster  carrieil  the  third  bill  safe. 

Many  instances  of  the  insecurity  of  the  conveyance  by  Post  have  been 
given  in  my  presence;  all  that  I  have  been  able  to  say  in  answer  to  these 
matters  was,  that  I  was  coininifsioned  to  put  the  I't>sts  on  the  best  footing, 
that  in  my  Survey  I  shou'd  put  every  thing  to  right ;  that  I  suspected 
some  mismanugemenr  a;  the  Jiinc.'ion  of  the  Northern  and  Southern  distrid, 
•vhi'.h  I  shoulM  umliiubteillv  recHfv. 


^rr 


a^. 


74 


Joi'RNAI.   KEPT 


26th.— Learnt  the  story  of  the  l)aci  causeway  leading  to  this  place,  and 
over  which  the  Post  pafses  in  danger  of  life  two  miles.  '  Puhlick  report  is, 
that  the  (Governor  and  Province  granted  the  ferry  to  Colonel  William  Dry 
for  ever,  on  condition  that  he  and  his  heirs  should  make  and  keep  in  good 
repair  a  high  way  thro'  the  Swampy  Island  Ivefore  mentionM.     The  Colonel 
finds  that  he  made  a  hard  bargain,  and  he  does  not  att,M„pr  to  mend  the 
road  ;  he  has  l)een  indiAed  more  than  once,  yet  the  road  is  still  had.     The 
King's  attorney  (his  son  in   !.awl   has  not  yet  prosecuted,  tho'  the  world 
calls  tye,  and  every  person  pafsing  and   repafsing  is  in  danger  of  breaking 
a   leg  or  an  arm,  yet    from  year   to   year   it   is   complaln'd  of  and    vearly 
grows  worse.      I  wrote  to  Colonel  Dry  on  the  strenuth  of  an  introdu^^.,ry 
letter  1  had  to  the  Colo.,  begging  of  him  to  recommend  a  careful  person 
at  Brunswick  to  take  charge  of  a  Post  office  there.      I  did  intend  to  go 
down  myself,  but  the  effects  of  mv  ride  trom  Charles  Town,  had  render'd 
it  painfid  for  me  to  si'  or  walk. 


:-th.-C-olo,,ei  Dry  very  politely  and  ..bliginulv  wrote  that  in  case  he 
cou'd  rtnd  nobody  to  take  charge  of  the  office  he  .vou'd  take  ere  of  it,  un- 
til a  proper  person  cou'd  he  found. 

Mr  Hooper  at  my  request  wrote  to  Mr  Lord  the  former  Post  Master 
in  Brunswick,  begging  him  to  accept  of  a  Commifsion.  I- or  a  reason  not 
als.gn'd  (but  be  it  what  it  wou'd  it  must  have  been  a  bad  one.  the  Post 
was  onluM  not  to  pafs  thro'  Brunswick  in  Mr  Delancev  s  time  Mr  L-,r,l 
has  .u,swcrd  that  he  is  ready  to  aet,  whenever  he  shall  be  properlv  author- 
ised so  to  do,  on  condition  that  a  small  allowance  he  made  to  him  for  his 
attendance  and  for  office  rent.  The  letters  sent  from  hi,  office  will  be 
many,  the  Postage  rcfei^ed  by  him  a  trifle.      I  shall  reconunend  i,  ,o  M,- 


BV  Hur.H    FiNLAV. 


75 


Roupell   to  comply  with  his  request,  as  it  will  be  of  advantage  to  the 
Revenue,  and  will  give  satisfadion   to  the  Trading  body  in  this  place. 

28th,  29th,  joth.  At  the  Hermitage  a  few  miles  from  Town  where  I 
■net  many  of  the  merchants,  and  Gentlemen  planters.  The  improvement 
of  the  Post  was  often  talk'd  of,  my  endeavour  was  on  all  occasions  to  a(- 
sure  the  Publick,  that  it  was  the  command  of  His  Majesty's  Post  Master 
(ieneral  to  put  the  American  Posts  on  the  best  footing  pofsible,  and  that 
for  that  end  solely  was  I  sent  among  them. 

31st. — I  matle  a  proposal  to  Mr  Boyd,  the  printer,  to  carry  his  Papers 
by  post  I  a  C'rofs  Creek,  a  place  already  mentioned,  once  a  fortnight. 

The  Newbern  Post  arriv'd  regularly  as  he  always  does;  the  Charles 
Town  Post  not  yet  arriv'd  tho'  this  is  the  day  appointed,  for  that  ridt.s 
arrival. 


trUining^ton. 

February  the  first.  Mr  Boyd,  the  printer,  proposes  to  ride  up  to  Cro<s 
Creek,  and  as  soon  as  he  knows  how  mai'y  papers  he  can  send,  he  will 
make  an  offer  of  a  sum  to  the  office  for  carrying  thcni. 

The  Northern  rider  has  made  a  claim  for  extra  expences  for  detention 
p.ist  the  time  fix'd  for  his  departure ;  he  waited  for  the  arrival  of  the 
Charles  Town  rider  until  \  o'clock  ;  he  said  he  was  detain'd  by  the  ferry 
men  from  (ieorgc  Town  over  the  Bay,  and  his  horse  tired.  Three  changes 
are  scarce  sufficient  for  this  ride. 


76 


Journal  kept 


Saw  Colonel  Dry,  and  thank'd  him  for  his  obliging  offer  to  serve  the 
office. 

Wrote  a  long  letter  on  I'ost-office  affhirs  to  Mr  Roupeli,  particularly  of 
Brunswick  and  Crofs  Creek. 

:d.-Ordered  the  Southern  rider  always  to  bring  certificate  ofhis  having 
been  detain'd  and  by  whom,  or  what  means. 

.ni.  4tl',  5tl'.  and  6th.-\Vairing  Mr  Lord's  arrival  from  Brunswick  in 
consequence  ot  his  promise  to  wait  on  n,e  to  receive  nu-  answer  to  I  is 
proposal  to  Mr  Hooper,  but  seeing  that  he  can.e  not,  and  having  r  -cover-d 
"f  -".v  bru.ses,  I  intend  to  set  out  to  nu.rrow,  as  the  people  ar^  very  i„,- 
patient  to  see  a  post  establish'd  between  this  and  Brunswick. 

7tl'.-Set  out  for  Brunswick  to  survey  the  road,  and  to  fix  matters  with 
Mr  Lord.      I  have  wrote  to  Mr  Roupeli  for  a  commifsion  for  him 

1  he  bad  causeway  already  mention'd  lies  in  the  way  ;  after  the  two  ferrys 
there  s,.,  miles  of  pretty  good  road,  tho'  s.nne  parts  of  n  are  heavy 
sand,  all  the  way  through  a  miserably  poor  pine  barren. 

Mr  Lord  went  by  water  in  the  morning  to  Wilmington  to  meet  me.  his 
w.fe  sa,d  that  he  wou'd  not  fail  to  return  immediately  on  finding  that  I 
was  here  to  see  him.  I  therefore  detennined  to  wait  his  return.       ^ 

Hth.-DeliverM  to  Mr  Hill,  ,|,,  Deputy  Collector  of  this  I'ort,  a  printed 
abstract  rrom  the  act  of  the  V  of  (;.,:  H,  ,.,„,,,„i„,,  ,,,-,  J^,^^  .^  ,,^. 
saul  he  wou  li  pay  due  observance  to  it. 


aas 


BY  Hugh  Finlay. 


77 


9th,  loth.  Mr  Lord  not  return'd;  I  then  concluded  that  he  was  wait- 
ing for  my  return  to  Wilmington,  and  I  left  Brunswick;  on  my  arrival  at 
Mr  Hoopers,  I  found  that  Mr  Lord  had  left  Town  about  an  hour. 

nth,  1 2th. — Writing  duplicates  of  my  last  letters  to  Mr  Todd  to  be 
sent  by  the  first  vefsel  from  hence  to  England. 


13th. — Sunday. 

14th. — The  Southern  and  the  Northern  rider  arrived  here  pundlually 
and  met  at  the  office  about  ten  in  the  morning,  altho'  the  two  last  days 
were  very  wet;  the  Charles  Town  post  came  by  way  of  Brunswick;  I  had 
no  letters  from  Mr  Roupell  in  ansver  to  my  two  last  to  him  on  office 
businefs;  I  know  not  if  he  has  as  yet  appointed  Mr  Lord  to  be  Deputy 
at  Brunswick,  and  I  am  ignorant  of  his  intention  concerning  the  Crofs 
Creek  proposal  of  which  I  wrote  fuliy  the  first  of  this  month. 

15th. — Wrote  to  Mr.  Roupell  and  to  Mr  Lord  on  office  businefs. 

i6th,  17th,  18th. — Waiting  Mr  Lords  answer  to  my  last  letter. 

19th. — Receiv'd  a  letter  from  Mr  Lord,  enclosing  one  from  Mr  Roupell, 
which  came  under  his  cover  by  the  last  post.  Mr  Roupell  is  very  full  in 
answer  to  mine  concerning  the  Brunswick  and  Crofs  Creek  Posts;  Mr 
Lord  excuses  himself  for  keeping  back  this  letter,  thus,  "He  intended 
"  to  follow  the  post  to  Wilmington  ;  having  received  his  Commifsion,  his 
"  int^'ntion  was,  to  take  the  o.ith  in  my  presence  and  to  give  Bond  before 


w 


r^ 


i 


7^  Journal  kept 

"  me ;  he  was  taken  ill  on  the  road  and  oblig'd  to  return,"  and  he  adds, 
"  That  he  will  be  up  in  a  few  days  to  receive  instrudion  from  me." 

Sunday  aoth,  or 

Monday  2ist.— Return'd  answer  to  Mr  Lord  that  I  wou'd  wait  for  him, 
and  desir'd  him  in  the  meantime  to  look  out  for  a  person  to  carry  the  ship 
letters  between  Brunswick  and  Wilmington.  A  good  negro  will  do  the 
businefs. 

Leave  Brunswick  every  Mondav 

'■«*"'•"  ^" Tuesday 

Come  up  to  Wilmington Wednesday 

'■«"'■"  °" Thursday 

Up  again  on  priday 

down  to  Brunswick Saturday 

'*^^'«" Sund^v. 

By  this  foot  post,  Wilmington  will  have  constant  communication  with 
Brunswick,  the  Fort. 

22d,  2,?,  and  24th  waiting  for  Mr  Lord. 

25th._Received  a  letter  from  him  which  marks  no  kind  of  intention  to 
be  up,  but  raising  difficulties  about  the  d.iyly  runner  proposed  in  my  last. 
I  think  it  is  very  necefsary  to  go  down  to  settle  this  matter. 

:6th._Left  Wilmington  and  arriv'd  at  Brunswick  early,  went  to  Mr 


ii 


'   1 


BY  Hugh  Finlay. 


79 


Lord,  heard  the  oath  administer'd  to  him  and  saw  him  sign  the  bond, 
both  which  I  took  into  my  pofsefsion.     I  instrudted  him  in  his  duty. 

He  cannot  find  a  boy  for  lefs  than  £30  Proc.  '^.  ann.  to  go  even  twice  a 
week,  Mondays  and  Thursdays  £30  Proc.  is  equal  to  jG  16. 17.6  Str. 

The  Collector  and  Comptroller  promise  once  again  not  to  admit  any 
vefsel  to  entry  without  the  Post  Masters  certificate. 

Delivered  at  Mr  Lord's  office,  blanks  which  I  got  printed  at  Wilmington, 
viz.  certificates  for  Ship  Masters  and  Post  Masters  bills,  also  a  parcel  of 
abstrafts  of  the  aft  of  the  V  of  Geo:  III  with  a  preamble,  to  be  shown  by 
the  Pilots  to  Masters  of  vefsels. 

Having  fixed  Mr  Lord  in  his  office,  and  done  all  thatappear'd  necefsary 
to  be  done,  I  took  my  leave.  He  is  to  forward  all  ship  letters  by  exprefs, 
until  a  stated  regular  conveyance  shall  be  fixed ;  each  exprefs  will  cost  but 
a  Triffle  considering  the  number  of  letters  he  will  carry,  it  is  necefsary  to 
shew  much  speed  at  first,  the  encouragement  to  carry  this  scheme  through 
is  great,  as  every  merchant  declares  that  his  Captain  shall  put  their  letters 
into  the  office  at  Brunswick.  In  the  evening  the  Charles  Town  Post 
arrived,  and  brought  letters  ^,  the  Nov'r  Packet ;  there  was  none  for  me; 
this  determines  me  to  proceed  to  New  Bern  after  a  conference  with  Mr 
Hooper. 


28th. — Mr  Hooper  proposes   to  hire  a  negroe  boy  to  go  down  i 
Brunswick  twice  a  week  ;  this  service  he  thinks  may  be  perform'd  for  £12 
or  £15  Proc.  "f*  ann. 

Set  out  in  the  afternoon  for  New  Bern  in  a  very  sultry  day,  'tis  reckoned 
9J  miles  distant.  From  this  day  until  the  Tuesday  following,  on  the  road 
to  Newbern.     In  tiie  ii  "niory  of  the  oldest  man  living  there  has  not  been 


i^iiii 


-a  ill!; 


1    Sli 


80 


Journal  kept 


such  heavy  rains  nor  of  so  long  continuance.  The  whole  country  is  over- 
flow'd,  all  the  bridges  are  carried  awav.  every  brook  is  swelled  to  a  deep 
impafsable  river,  in  short  we  are  here  prisoners  in  a  country  Tavern. 

With  infinite  difficulty,  and  no  small  risk  of  being  drown'd  in  pafsing 
the  rivers  in  flats  (a  kind  of  boat  very  ill  calculated  for  pafsing  the  rivers 
in  their  present  state,  for  they  run  like  mill  sluices)  we  got  to  Newbern. 

8th  of  March,  and  waited  immediately  on  Governor  Martin. 

9th.— Saw  the  Deputy  Mr  Dowce,  who  told  me  that  he  cou'd  not  attend 
to  any  businefs  during  the  sitting  of  the  afsembly  ;  I  also  saw  Mr  Hewes 
of  Edenton  (Member  for  that  place)  who  takes  charge  of  the  office  there; 
we  talk'd  office  matters  over. 

One  Mr  Macnair  from  Halifax  on  Roanoke  represents,  that  if  the  mails 
were  forwarded  from  Virginia  that  way  to  the  Southward,  two  wide  and 
dangerous  ferrys  wou'd  be  avoided,  and  that  it  wou'd  not  be  farther  about ; 
but  in  this  case  what  becomes  of  Edenton. 

25th.— From  my  arrival  have  not  been  able  to  do  anv  Post  office  businefs 
as  Mr  Dowce  was  otherwise  employ'd  and  cou'd  not  attend.  He  informs 
me  to  day  '.hat  his  businefs  as  a  Surgeon  makes  it  impofsible  for  him  to 
g.ve  the  requisite  attendance  and  attention  to  the  Post  office  and  therefor 
he  begs  that  a  deputy  may  be  appointed  in  his  stead. 

I  intend  to  examine  the  road  from  hence  to  Halifax  and  from  thence 
down  to  Edenton  and  examine  the  road  from  that  place  to  Newbern  ■  and 
after  a  settlement  of  Post  office  affiiirs  return  to  Halifax  and  Surve'y  the 
road  from  thence  to  Suffolk  in  Virginia. 


4 

u^ 


BY   HUOH   FiNLAY.  8  I 

Mr.  Dowce  agrees  to  keep  the  office  until  my  return  from  Halifax. 

26th. — Left  Newbern.  Rode  8  miles  to  Bachelors  creek  over  which 
there's  a  bridge ;  it  is  now  down  but  will  be  rebuilt  in  a  few  days,  20  miles 
farther  Swifts  creek,  the  bridge  in  the  same  way,  1 5  miles  farther  put  up  at 
a  Tavern. 


27th. — A  mile  farther  crofsed  Tar  River  200  yards  wide  in  a  fine  flat, 
by  going  round  a  mile  or  so,  and  keeping  the  banks  of  the  river  near,  one 
can  pafs  o^      i  bridge  30  miles  higher  up  at  a  village  called  Tarborough. 

We  pior'^edt;d  14  miles  and  crofs'd  a  bridge  over  Conetaw  Creek  and 
3 1  miles  fartlier  lodged  at  a  miserable  hut. 


28th. — Proceeded  16  miles  farther  to  a  creek  easily  to  be  pafs'd  at  all 
times  and  8  miles  farther  sometimes  over  rising  grounds  to 

Halifax, 


The  road  all  the  way  is  a  hard  dry  sand.  This  place  contains  about  50 
houses,  stores  are  kept  here  to  supply  the  country  round  with  European 
and  West  India  Commoditys  for  which  Pork,  Tobacco,  Indian  corn. 
Wheat  and  Lumber  are  taken  in  return.  The  distance  from  this  place  to 
Newbern  is  1 15  miles. 

Travellers  from  the  Northward  to  Charles  Town  generally  pafs  this  way 
ti/  avoid  the  ferrys  over  Albemarle  and  Pamlico  sounds.  This  Town  is 
distant  from  Suffolk  in  Virginia  75  miles,  and  the  same  distance  from 
Petersburgh. 

As  there's  no  established  post  between  any  Town  in  Virginia  and  Halifax 


^rr 


I 


ii  < 


11 


Hi 


83 


Journal  kept 


they  employ  a  private  rider  to  bring  their  letters  from  Williamsburgh  once 
a  week,  this  rider  pafses  through  Petersburgh. 

The  people  here  wish  to  have  this  made  a  Post  Town  in  the  route  of 
the  Post  to  Charles  Town.  I  shall  be  a  better  Judge  of  the  propriety  of 
changing  this  route  after  having  pafsed  between  Edenton  and  Newbern. 

29th,  ^-^oth  and  jist  March,  ist,  2d  and  3d  April  at  Halifax. 

4th  April,  left  that  place,  and  the  9th  got  to  Edenton.  We  crofs'd  the 
Roanoke  at  Halifax  200  yds.  wide  in  a  fine  flat,  at  a  place  called  Windsor, 
we  crofs'd  Salmon  creeK  and  we  crofs'd  Chowan  after  a  gale  of  wind  which 
detain'd  us  two  days  at  the  ferry  house,  the  ferry  from  Dawsons  to  Town 
IS  8  miles.  From  Halifax  to  Edenton  is  90  Miles.  Edenton  is  the  most 
Northerly  Post  Town  in  the  Southern  distrift,  distant  about  30  miles  from 
the  line  dividing  Virginia  from  North  Carolina,  and  55  from  Suffolk,  in 
a  fine  road.  This  place  has  but  little  intercourse  with  great  Britain,  but  it 
has  great  trading  connexion  with  the  West  Indies.  The  Town  contains 
160  houses  and  about  1000  souls  Whites  and  Blacks.  The  ferry  over  the 
Sound  of  Albemarle  occasions  many  delays  to  the  Post  when  an  Easterly 
wind  blows;  or  when  the  wind  is  strong  at  West,  it  is  impafsable  for  the 
Pafsage  boats,  which  are  none  of  the  best. 

Mr  Hewcs  was  in  the  country,  and  did  not  return  to  Town  before  the 
1 2th.  He  has  no  office  set  apart  but  receives  the  letters  in  his  compting 
house,  and  one  of  his  clerks  delivers  them. 

He  inform'd  me  that  tho'  he  had  remitted  his  accounts,  they  were  yet 
unsettled,  and  he  demanded  time  to  make  them  out  for  me  (ever  since  he 
had  charge  of  the  office)  and  promised  to  deliver  them  by  the  iSth. 


BY  Hugh  Finlav. 


83 


He  was  pundual  to  the  time;  by  the  State,  deli ver'd,  there  appear'd  a 
balance  of  .£26  Str.  due  to  him;  I  examind  them,  found  them  without 
error  and  drew  a  bill  on  AlexV  Colden  Esq'r,  Comptroller  of  the  Post 
office  at  New  York,  for  that  sum  in  his  favour. 

It  is  to  be  observed,  that  the  money  received  by  Mr  Hewes  for  Postage, 
never  paid  the  Co.nmifsion  chargd  by  him.  As  has  been  mentioned  before, 
Mr  Delancy  sent  him  a  Form  by  which  to  model  and  keep  his  accounts, 
he  pointedly  observed  that  form,  and  charged  20  |i  ct.  as  well  on  all  letters 
pafsing  thro'  his  hands  if  sent  from  other  offices,  as  on  the  money  received 
for  letters  in  the  delivery  of  his  office.  All  letters  for  any  office  to  the 
Southward  or  Northward  of  him  were  sent  to  him,  on  these  he  charged 
commifsion,  and  thus  his  commifsions  amounted  to  more  than  the  moneys 
received  at  his  office  and  every  quarter  there  arose  a  balance  to  him. 

If  he  had  remitted  a  regular  quarterly  account  to  Mr  Roupell,  he  wou'd 
have  -heck'd  him  and  sent  him  a  proper  form,  but  he  never  sent  any  before 

As  soon  as  Mr  Roupell  received  them  h-  informed  him  of  his  errors, 
and  employ'd  Mr  Hooper  Deputy  at  Wilmington  to  put  him  to  right, 
but  Mr  Hewes  insisted  on  his  being  right,  and  r,o  in  faft  he  was,  for  he 
followed  exadlly  the  instruiftions  given  him.  Thus  the  affiiir  now  stands; 
and  I  find  that  it  wou'd  be  a  hardship  on  Mr  Hfwes  to  make  him  give  up 
his  claim,  even  if  I  could,  it  has  been  nothing  to  him,  one  of  his  clerks 
had  the  profits.  By  insisting  on  this  matter  the  office  wou'd  lose  a  careful 
officer,  a  man  of  sense  and  Character,  who  will  do  every  thing  in  his  power 
to  advance  the  interests  of  the  office. 

For  these  reasons  I  settled  the  affiiir  with  him  by  paying  the  old  balance, 


lii 


.■i.l 


84 


Journal  kept 


and  on  his  part  he  will  observe  the  proper  form,  charging  only  20  Y  ct  on 
the  amount  of  postage  received  by  him,  which  will  be  but  a  mere  triffle. 
1  he  Post  days  at  Kdeiiton  are  as  follows. 

The  Post  from  Suffolk  arrives  on  Wednesday  at  noon  once  every  fort- 
night very  regularly. 

The  mail  for  the  Southward   lies  at  this  office  until  the  Friday  in  the 
week  following. 

The  rider  from  Bath  Town  arrives  here  on  that  day  with  the  mail  from 
the  Southward,  and  carrys  back  to   Bath   the  letters  fc.r  the  Southward 
which  have  lain  so  long  here.  ' 

The  mail  brought  by  the  Bath  rider  lies  here  from  Friday  until  Monday 
when  they  are  sent  to  Suffolk  by  Mr  Hewes's  rider,  who  returns  to  thi; 
place  on  Wednesday  at  noon  with  the  mail  fron,  the  Northward,  and  so 
on  continually. 

The  letters  for  the  Southward  lose  ten  days  here,  and  those  for  the 
Nort  ward  lose  three.     Perhaps  in  forn,er  times  letters  may  have  been  lost 

t    h,s  place,  there  s  no  apartment  appropriated  for  their  reception,  they 
he  loose  ,n  an  open  compti..  house,  and  lie  for  a  long  time.     At  presen 

here  .s  an  appearance  of  care.     But  were  all  Post  Masters  to  put  up  their 
letters  ,n  a  proper  manner,  and  direft  each  parcel  for  the  office  of  deivery 
nn.ch  trouble  would  be  saved  to  this  office;  and  there  wouM  be  lefs  risk 
of  losmg  letters,  yet  risk  there  will  always  be  until  each  Deputy  provide 

Sufflik""^^  pays  ,iS6  Str.  y  ann.  for  riding  work  between  Edenton  and 


Bv  Hugh  Finlav. 


85 


19th. — Crofs'J  over  Albemarle  Sound  from  Eden'-on  to  the  opposite 
Shore  12  miles,  it  is  often  impafsable  for  days  it  renders  it  inconvenient 
for  a  Post  route. 

20th. — Proceeded  to  Bath  in  a  level  firm  road  thro'  a  very  poor  country, 
it  is  a  small  insignificant  place  on  Pamlicoe  River.  William  brown  the 
deputy  does  not  receive  40  s.  "f*  ann.  for  Postage  in  this  place;  he  never 
kept  a  book,  he  has  his  accounts  of  receipts  of  Postage  on  scraps  of  Paper, 
by  the  time  that  I  return  on  my  way  to  Virginia  he  will  have  his  account 
made  out. 

He  contrafts  with  the  Office  for  carrying  the  mails  once  a  fortnight  be- 
tween Newbern  &  Hdenton  for  which  service  he  has  ,£46  Str.  ^  annum. 

He  says  the  distance  from  Newbern  to  Bath 51  miles 

from  Bath  to  Edenton  ferry  42 


93 
Mr  Roupell  instrufted  me  to  reduce  the  price  of  this  ride  if  pofsible, 

and  to  bring  it  on  the  footing  of  the  ride  between  Newbern  and  Wilmington 
an  equal  distance,  but  Mr  Brown  wou'd  not  hearken  to  this  proposal.  He 
says  he  must  give  it  up  if  any  thing  is  taken  oflF. 

Post  days  from  Bath. 

The  rider  sets  out  on  Thursday  once  a  fortnight,  and  he  arrives  at 
Edenton  with  the  Southern  mail  on  Friday,  if  the  wind  permits  him  to 
crofs  over  Albemarle  sound  a  pafsage  of  12  miles. 

There  he  leaves  the  mail  from  the  Southward  and  takes  up  the  mail 
from  the  Northward,  and  arrives  with  it  at  Rath  on  Sunday  morning ;  this 
mail  lies  at  Bath  until  Friday  (losing  5  days)  when  they  are  dispatched  for 


#> 


I  I; 


86 


Journal  kept 


i 


Newbern,  and  there  arrive  on  the  evening  of  that  day,  and  there  he  ex- 
changes mails,  and  returns  to  Bath  on  Sunday  morning,  where  these  letters 
!'«"  until  Thursday  (losing  4  days)  and  thus  the  round  is  kept  up. 

The  Province  pays  the  ferry  men  double  fare  for  pafsing  His  Majestys 
Couriers  ;  by  this  means  the  Post  is  never  detained  at  ferrys  when  there's 
a  pofsibility  of  pafsing. 

list. — Crofs'd  from  Rath  over  Pamlicoe  5  miles,  the  ferry  boats  are  not 
very  good.  I'rorn  this  river  to  Neuse  ferry  opposite  to  New  Bern  is  jS 
miles  good  road,  except  j  or  4  miles  nearest  Neuse  ferry  it  is  a  heavy 
sand,  the  ferry  is  a  mile  over  and  the  boat  is  very  bad. 

From  the  2;d  April  to  the  6th  May  settled  accounts  with  Mr  Dowse, 
who  resign'd  his  office. 

Mr  Tomlinson  succeeds  hir.i  as  Deputy  Post  Master,  I  instruded  him 
in  his  duty,  gave  him  forms,  &c.,  and  I  shew'd  him  how  to  make  up  the 
mails,  and  enter  them  in  his  books  after  which  I  left  New  Bern  on  the  17th 
in  the  intention  to  visit  and  examine  the  road  from  Halifax  to  Suffolk  in 
Virginia. 

At  Halifax  I  spoke  with  Mr  William  Martin  (one  recommended  by  th-; 
principal  peojije  in  Town)  about  taking  charge  of  an  office  in  case  one 
shou'd  be  established  here;  h-  is  willing  to  accept  of  a  Commifsion. 


ifitS. — Crofs'd  the  Roanoke  and  rode  41      iles  to  Wynton  a  small  Town 
on  Chowan  River,  fifty  miles  from  the  mouth. 

17th. — Crofs'd  Chowan  in  a  fine  skow,  the  river  may  be  150  yds.  wide 
herj.     Road  by  Sommcrton  a  small  vill.ige  of  no  note  to  Suff"olk  J4  miles  : 


m  «l 


Bv  Hugh  Finlay.  gy 

The  road  is  in  general  good ;  in  some  places  there's  loose  heavy  sand. 
The  present  Route  of  the  mails  for  the  Southward  beginning  at  Williams- 
burgh  will  measure  thus, 

From  Williamsburgh  to  Norfolk J4  miles 

N.  B.     This  includes  a  ferry  of  18  miles. 
From  Norfolk  to  Suffolk  28 

To  Edenton  ,, 

To  Newhern  including  two  ferrys,  one  of  5  and 

the  other  of  12  miles  q, 

230 

The  proposed  Route  to  avoid  the  Ferrys  will  be 

From  WiliiamsburfjT  to  Petersburg  75  miles 

Petersburg  to  Halifax  jr 

Halifax  to  New  Bern  n? 

265 


Difference       JS 
The  difference  between  the  f.  u  roads  appears  to  be  35  miles  in  favor  of 
the  present  route,  but  by  t'  ..  snhcr  way  there's  no  tedious  ferrys,  there's 
37  miles  of  water  in  the  road  the  post  now  goes,  three  tedious  difficult 
ferry's  V(  -y  often  impafsable. 


.88 


Journal  kept 


A  riew  of  the  progrefs  of  His  Majestys  mails  from  the  time  that  the 
Post  leaves  Charles  Town  in  South  Carolina  until  his  arrival  at  Suffolk  in 
Virginia. 


The  Post  leave's  Char- 
les Town  of  a  Wed- 
nesday and  arrives  at 

George  Town 

Brunswick 

Wilmington 

New  Bern 

Bath 

Edenton 

Suffolk 


ij 

60 

Day  ot"  the  arrival  of 
the  mails  ai  the  JiC'"r- 
ent  stages. 


t;   6  ? 


B     i«    '    n    i« 


I-     C     rr, 

4^    o    't- 
is H  "C 


Friday 
1 15    Sunday 
15    Monday 
9.J    Thursday 
4J    Sunday 
S-  ■  Friday 
55  I  Monday 


27 


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i      6 

9\ 

9, 

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4: 

24! 

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27' 

E  •• 


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«-■     u  •- 

'~  -^  :^  j: 

ll    "^  t£  •- 
"S    c  *  ^ 

O       3      > 

>.       ;/;    '^ 
00    S"  — •    "J 

T3    ra    c 


c    c 


The  Tardiness  of  ti>e  pon  discourages  correspondence  hv  his  Majestv's 
mails  to  and  from  the  Southern  distrirt. 

From  what  I  have  heard  said  in  the  Carolinas  on  the  subject  of  the 
Posts,  ,t  IS  my  opinion  that  if  there  were  a  regular  weekly  postestablish'd 
from  Town  to  Town  in  the  Southern  distrirt,  correspondence  wou'd  en- 
crease  much ;  and  to  avoid  delays,  the  .oute  .hou'd  he  changed  and  the  Mails 
forl'etershurgh,  Flalitax,  Tarho.ough,  Newhern.  Wilmington.  Brunswick 
(u-,:  I  own  and  Charles  Town,  he  sent  the  upper  road,  from  New  Castle 
or  Williamsburg. 


BY  Hugh  Finlay. 


89 


NORTHERN    DISTRICT. 


17th  MAY  1774. 


Suffolk  is  the  most  Southerly  Town  in  the  Northern  Distridl ;  the  letters 
are  deliv'd  here  in  the  store  of  the  first  merchant  in  the  place,  by  T!.omas 
Bell  one  of  the  clerks;  there  is  no  office,  but  the  letters  are  carefully  lock'd 
up.  Mr  Bell  has  nocommifsion,  he  keeps  his  books  neatly  and  in  proper 
form;  he  has  had  charge  of  the  office  only  four  months.  A  Mr  Stott  had 
charge  of  it  in  this  place  formerly,  at  his  death  he  owed  the  Post  office 
i^jy.if.Sd.  Virginia  money  which  I  received  from  Mr  Bell;  I  enquir'd 
into  the  state  of  the  accounts  since  Stotts  death.  I  found  that  one  Fleming 
had  been  appointed  in  May  1772,  he  left  Suffolk  in  January  1773  and  put 
the  bookR  and  office  Papers  into  the  hands  of  Robert  McMurdo,  and  he 
gave  every  thing  up  to  Mr  Bell  excepting  his  account  and  papers  from 
which  an  account  cou'd  be  made  out.  As  I  had  no  account  of  the  balances 
liue  to  the  (Jencral  Post  office,  I  cou'd  not  ascertain  the  sums  due  by 
Fleming  and  McMurdo  the  first  lives  in  Norfolk,  the  other  in  the  West 
indies. 

Mr  Bill  observes  that  h^.-  has  a  very  great  deal  of  trouble  and  no  equiva- 
lent for  the  time  and  attention  that  he  is  obliged  to  give  the  Post  office 
affairs. 

He  says,  that  all  letters  from  the  Northward  foi  any  place  Southward 
of  Suffolk  arc  sent  to  him,  and  he  is  obiig'd  to  make  them  into  mails  and 


4 


9°  Journal  kept 

forward  them  to  their  directions;  now  if  the  Post  Masters  to  the  North- 
ward were  to  make  up  their  mails  regularly,  and  send  them  properly,  the 
officer  at  Suffolk  could  have  no  more  trouble  than  any  other  officer  has. 
To  the  Southward  I  have  instrufted  all  Post  Masters  to  make  up  mails 
for  the  different  offices,  and  as  I  paCs  along  to  the  Northward  I  shall  give 
the  hke  diredtions  to  the  Post  Masters,  tho'  in  general  thev  are  imiorant 
of  the  situations  of  places.     For  this  reason, 

Let  every  Post  Master  return  to  the  Survevor.  the  nan,es  of  all  the 
places  of  note  within  his  delivery,  that  they  may  he  printed  and  left  at 
each  office  as  a  diredory  to  the  Post  office. 

For  instance  Masnas  and  R,chn,on„  are  places  of  trade  where  there's 
no  office;  a  Post  Master  at  Baltimore  in  Maryland  or  Quebec  in  Canada 
may  not  know  to  what  place  in  Virginia  to  send  letters  direfted  to  these 
places,  but  lookmg  into  the  book  proposed  to  be  printed  he  wou'd  find 
under  letter  M  MUners  in  In^^nna  in  the  delivery  of  S.-fko,  k 

The  Post  from  the  Northward  arrives  here  every  Tuesday  afternoon. 
J-rom  the  Southward  every  other  Tuesday. 
The  Northward  Post  returns  every  Wednesday. 
The  Southern  post  returns  every  other  Weilnesday 
Letters  for  the  Southward  lie  in  this  office  S  days,  I  mean  such  as  arrive 
here  on  the  week  before  the  Southern  Post  comes  in 

''"''^-'-'ip^  at  this  office  does  not  exceed  €S  'f  .p.arter  consa,..entlv  the 
I  ost  Masters  Salary  ,s  but  about  €6  yearly.  There's  no  rider  paid  a;  this 
ortice.  ' 

The  rider  between  F.denton  and  Suffolk  is  paid  by  Mr  Hewes.  Necro 
nders  are  often  employed,  they  can  take  no  oath.     ' 


BY  Hugh  Finlav. 


9> 


1 8th. — Proceed  to  Norfolk  28  miles  in  a  fine  road.  It  stands  on  Elizabeth 
now  called  Norfolk  River  a  quarter  or  half  a  mile  in  breadth.  Portsmouth 
IS  on  the  opposite  side  from  whence  there's  a  good  ferry.  At  Portsmouth 
a  small  Town  there's  a  branch  of  the  Suffolk  office. 


19th. — Saw  Mr  Parker  under  whose  eye  the  office  is  kept  by  Alexander 
Diack  his  clerk,  the  letters  here  as  at  Suffolk  are  deliver'd  in  the  Store  or 
warehouse.  Mr  Diack  keeps  his  books  and  accounts  in  a  neat  and  regular 
manner. 

The  receipt  at  this  office  is  Cioo  Str.  yearly,  ao  "^  cent  on  that  sum  the 
Deputy's  Salary  amounts  to  .£20.  The  Northern  Post  arrives  on  Sunday 
at  noon.  He  sets  out  for  Suffolk  Southward,  on  Tuesday.  The  mail 
returns  towards  Williamsburg  Northw'd  Thursday.  The  rider  from  Suf- 
folk is  pundual,  but  the  riders  from  the  other  hand  are  rather  irregular, 
because  that  Hampton  the  office  next  to  Norfolk  thro'  which  all  the 
northern  letters  come,  is  seperated  from  it  by  the  junftion  of  James  River 
and  Klizabeth  or  Norfolk  River  i8  miles;  there's  no  Post  boat,  and  the 
mail  is  sent  over  from  Hampton  in  the  first  pafsage  boat  offering,  in  charge 
of  the  Ncgroe  ferry  men;  if  no  pafsengers  offer  from  Hampton  to  Norfolk, 
the  ferryman  will  not  send  a  boat  on  purpose  to  carry  the  mail,  nothwith- 
standing  the  art  of  tiie  IX  ofCJueen  Anne,  relative  to  ferrys;  at  this  time 
it  would  be  unadvisable  to  try  an  affair  of  this  kind  in  any  court  in  America; 
this  ferfy  as  before  observed  is  1  8  miles  over;  there's  one  in  Virginia  of  60 
over  Chesapeak  Bay  when  the  art  was  made,  it  is  likely  that  they  did  not 
advert  to  the  hardship  of  a  man's  being  obliged  to  carry  a  Post  rider  over 
such  wide  ferrys,  for  nothing.     WouUl  it  not  be  equitable  to  pay  for  these 


l\  I 


!:     1 


'  i       ■ 


9a 


Journal  kept 


ferry's  the  same  sum  that  is  paid  for  conveying  a  mail  the  same  distance 
by  land? 

The  rider  between  Norfolk  and  Suffolk  is  paid  ,£25  Virg'a  money  p  ann. 
This  office  accounts  with  Williamsburg. 

Hampton's  the  Port  of  entry  for  Norfolk,  the  masters  of  ships  entering 
there,  seldom  deliver  their  letters  at  the  Post  office  at  this  place-  if  any 
letters  are  brought  up  in  the  \-efsel  they  are  thrown  down  on  a  Table  in  a 
Tavern  or  Coffee  house,  for  every  man  to  pick  out  his  own. 

It  is  here  said  that  the  mails  from  d,c  Northward  are  brought  to  them 
.n  a  round  about  tedious  way,  and  the  people  complain  of  it  as  a  grievance 
1  hey  say  that  by  the  way  of  the  Eastern  shore  of  Maryland,  Philadelphia 
IS  but  248  miles  distant,  and  the  present  Post  route  is'+oo.     It  is  agreed 
that  the  Bay  of  Chesapeak  may  be  at  times  a  great  hindrance  to  the  Post's 
speed  th,s  way,  yet  'tis  allow'd  in  general  that  the  shortncfs  of  the  route 
far  outweighs   that  objection   for  the  boats  that  plv   acrofs  the  bay  are 
very  fine,  and  will  never  be  stop'd  thrice  in  a  year  by  bad  weather.'    By 
this  route  they  can  have  their  advices  8  days  sooner  than  by  the  present 
post  road      It  is  also  said  there  are  many  counties,  on  the  K,,stern  shore, 
unaccomodated  with    Posts;    Trading  countys  to  encrease  the  revenue 
I  he  deputy  show'd  me  letters  that  had  been  lying  for  sonietime  in  the 
o(hce,  d.recled  for  the  Colierto,  and  Comptroller  of  Accomack,  hut  he  had 
no  way  ot  forwarding  them. 

I  saw  Mr  Fleming,  the  former  deputy  of  Suffi.lk,  he  says  he  put  all  these 
affairs  into  McMurdo's  pofsetsion.  and  he  is  gone  to  t'he  West  Indies- 
so  that  this  debt  whatever  it  may  be  appears  desperate,  for  Klen,i„«  is'i 
poor  man.  '^ 


BY  Hugh  FiNLAy. 

93 

for  Norfolk  af,.,  ,1,.  -o,,,  „JZ    I  .  'f"^'  '""  ""'  '"'  '''^'" 

to  DC  f„r.,rded  ,>„„  Norfolk  ,„   ,,     '"""»"'"  '"  "-mptoi.  too  long 
n^erd,-,  a,„l  all  To.,,,  i„  ,1    „  "  ""■""  '""•  '''"'  "«  Suffolk 

i»  go.u.  f„,  v„k  „d  w™:,!'  ;t::  r::  r  "'"?■■ ''-  "■"" 

it  he  observed  that  rhl.  I  '     *''''  '°'^  °"  "i'"  "'^e;   let 

.f  .1.  coiicat;  of ,:; ,  dt im::,  ■;;  'c°°'  "° '""-"-  ■«'  ""■ 

There's  „„  office  ser  apart  here,  hut  things  are  kept  in  ,o„d  order. 

h.s  letters  h  re.  those  h,r  the  Xordnvard  if  it  happens  not  on  a  I'ost  d,v 
are  sent  by  l-.xprefs  to  Williamsburtr.  by  that  means  thi«    ffi  ' ' 

than  it  receives.  "  *"'  °^''  ^''>••''  """-"^ 


.:,. 

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94  Journal  kept  bv  Hugh   Finlav. 

Proceeded  24  miles  in  a  fine  road  to  I'ork. 


Next  day,  the  24th,  Saw  the  deputy  Mr  Allan  Jones ;  this  is  the  Port 
of  entry  for  Hanover,  New  Castle,  and  all  parts  of  York  river.  This  office 
accounts  to  Williamsburg.  He  has  no  place  set  apart  for  the  delivery  and 
receipt  of  letters. 

He  receives  about  £14  yearly,  but  as  at  Hampton,  it  w'd  increase  if  ship 
letters  were  deliver'd  to  him,  at  least  the  revenue  wou'd  encrease,  by  the 
inland  post  of  such  letters.  I  left  several  abstracts  from  the  adt  concern- 
ing ship  letters,  with  him. 

The  Post  arrives  here  from  the  Northward  on  .Saturday. 

The  Post  from  the  Southward  arrives  on  a  Friday. 

Mr  Jones  informs  me  that  he  was  induced  to  accept  of  the  care  of  the 
office  here,  th.it  he  might  be  exempted  from  serving  on  Jurys  or  as  a  Militia 
man  but  he  h.is  found  that  the  exemption  sent  him  is  no  protcftion.  The 
Militia  court  martials  have  fin'd  him  thrice;  these  fines  he  has  paid  rather 
than  give  up  a  claim  founded  on  His  Majestys  Royal  proclamation.  He 
says  that  at  this  time  there's  an  execution  against  him  to  levy  fines  for  re- 
fusing twice  to  serve  as  a  Juryman. 

He  wrote  to  the  Governor,  The  Earl  of  Dunmore  in  Dec'r  last  respedl- 
fully  representing  his  case ;   but  he  has  had  no  Answer. 

Unless  the  Judges  of  the  diffi;rent  courts  in  America  will  pay  regn:d  to 
the  Exemption  in  question  no  person  will  accept  of  a  deputation  from  the 
Deputy  Post-Masters  General. 


